A tough story is unfolding out of Kansas City just as NFL Draft week begins.
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Dave Merritt, defensive backs coach for the Chiefs, is facing a misdemeanor domestic battery charge, according to the Kansas City Star.
Citing court documents, the report states Merritt is accused of "unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly" causing bodily harm to a daughter. The allegation qualifies as a domestic violence offense.
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Merritt, 54, was arrested Wednesday night in Overland Park and booked without bond. He is due in court shortly.
Details remain limited beyond that.
The Chiefs said they are aware of the situation but declined further comment.
The timing is hard to ignore. This comes just as the NFL Draft gets underway, putting a spotlight on one of the league's more respected assistants.
Merritt has been with Kansas City since 2019 and is widely viewed as one of the top defensive backs coaches in the NFL. He has played a key role in the development of multiple standouts during the Chiefs' recent Super Bowl runs.
Overall, he has been part of five Super Bowl-winning staffs during his coaching career.
Before Kansas City, Merritt spent years with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls as part of that staff. He also had a brief playing career with the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
