Chiefs Assistant Coach Charged for Alleged Domestic Battery to His Daughter Hours Before NFL Draft

TL;DR

Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery involving his daughter, just hours before the NFL Draft. This marks a significant incident as he enters his eighth season with the team.

Key points

Dave Merritt charged with misdemeanor domestic battery
Incident occurred hours before the 2026 NFL Draft
Merritt is entering his eighth season with the Chiefs

Mentioned in this story

Dave Merritt

Kansas City Chiefs

Dave Merritt at a Chiefs game in Jan. 2026
Credit: Bri Ali/Kansas City Chiefs via AP

NEED TO KNOW

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery, according to court documents
Merritt, a former NFL player, is entering his eighth season coaching with the Chiefs and 25th in the NFL
The Chiefs have not commented on the allegations, which come just hours before the 2026 NFL Draft begins

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt was charged Thursday on allegations of domestic battery to his daughter, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Merritt, a former NFL player, was arrested in Overland Park, Kan. on Wednesday, April 22 and charged Thursday morning with misdemeanor domestic battery. In a complaint filed by the Johnson County District Attorney's office, Merritt is accused of "unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily harm to a person," whom they name as Drayah Merritt.

Drayah is listed on Merritt's bio page on the Chiefs website as one of his two daughters, who he shares, along with three sons, with wife Yolanda.