Kansas City Chiefs Assistant Coach Dave Merritt Arrested for Domestic Battery Hours Before NFL Draft

TL;DR

Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt was arrested for domestic battery just hours before the NFL Draft. He faces a misdemeanor charge related to causing bodily harm to his daughter, Drayah Merritt.

Key points

Dave Merritt arrested for domestic battery
Charge involves causing harm to his daughter Drayah
Scheduled court appearance on April 23
Released on $2,500 bond with conditions
Arrest occurred hours before the NFL Draft

Mentioned in this story

Dave MerrittDrayah MerrittKansas City ChiefsWayne Smith

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach **Dave Merritt** has been arrested. On Thursday, April 23, CBS affiliate KOLR 10 OzarksFirst reported that Merritt, 54, was arrested by Overland Park police on suspicion of domestic battery the night prior. According to an online complaint obtained by *The Athletic*, Merritt’s misdemeanor charge refers to “knowingly, or recklessly (causing) bodily harm to a person, to wit: **Drayah Merritt**.” Under his bio on the Chiefs’ website, he’s listed as having a daughter named Drayah. Merritt also shares three sons – **David Jr.**, **Devin**, **Dawson** – and daughter **Kiki** with wife **Yolonda**. He was scheduled to make an appearance in court on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. local time. The *Kansas City Star* later reported that Merritt requested court-appointed counsel who entered a not guilty plea for him. Prosecutors asked for a $2,500 bond and a no-contact order, while the defense argued for release on personal recognizance due to his lack of a criminal record. Judge **Wayne Smith** ultimately allowed his release on a $2,500 bond, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim and no alcohol, drugs or firearms. Merritt’s arrest came just hours before the 2026 NFL draft, and social media users expressed their disappointment in the situation online.

Duncan Williams/Cal Sport Media/ZUMAPRESS.com Newscom/Mega Agency “Every time the Chiefs are about to have some type of exciting moment, this s\*\*t happens,” wrote one person . “I open Twitter hoping to see the Draft Day buzz, etc and the first thing I see is the Dave Merritt news,” another person added. “WTF?! Logging back out.” has spoken about Merritt in the past and described him as “unbelievable” during an episode of his podcast, . In 2024, Merritt also praised Kelce’s high-profile relationship with fiancée **Taylor Swift**. “[Taylor] actually affected the team in a positive way,” Merritt said during an episode of at the time. “Everybody was excited that Travis was happy. So when my player, my brother, is happy beside me, that helps me and that encourages me.”

Q&A

What were the charges against Kansas City Chiefs coach Dave Merritt?

Dave Merritt was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery for allegedly causing bodily harm to his daughter, Drayah Merritt.

What are the conditions of Dave Merritt's release after his arrest?

Merritt was released on a $2,500 bond with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim and no use of alcohol, drugs, or firearms.

How did social media react to Dave Merritt's arrest before the NFL Draft?

Social media users expressed disappointment and frustration, noting that Merritt's arrest overshadowed the excitement surrounding the NFL Draft.

Kansas City Chiefs Assistant Coach Dave Merritt Arrested for Domestic Battery Hours Before NFL Draft

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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