NFL clears Chiefs defensive backs coach Merritt of policy breach
Dave Merritt will retain his position with Kansas City despite an April arrest, as the NFL concludes he did not violate the personal-conduct policy.
The National Football League has determined that Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt did not breach the organisation’s personal-conduct policy following an offseason arrest for domestic battery. According to a report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the league will not impose any disciplinary measures against the 54-year-old coach.
Merritt was arrested and charged in April with unlawfully causing bodily harm to a daughter. The district attorney’s office filed a complaint alleging that he had “unlawfully, knowingly or recklessly” caused such harm. Merritt has five children, including two daughters.
The criminal charges were dismissed without prejudice the following month. Merritt’s attorney stated that the district attorney’s office conducted a further review of the matter and subsequently decided to drop the charges.
Although the legal proceedings concluded, the NFL retained the authority to discipline Merritt independently of the judicial outcome. The league’s personal-conduct policy allows for sanctions if a player or coach is deemed to have placed themselves in a bad position, even where the legal system declines to pursue or dismisses charges. In this instance, the league chose not to take action.
Merritt has served as the Chiefs’ defensive backs coach since the 2019 season. His coaching career includes a 14-year tenure with the New York Giants from 2004 to 2017, followed by a season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He has interviewed for at least one defensive-coordinator role during his career but has never held the position.
