The domestic violence case against Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has been dismissed without prejudice, according to online court records from Johnson County, Kansas.
Merritt was accused of ‘unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly’ causing bodily harm to his daughter and charged with Class B person misdemeanor on April 23. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond.
The probable cause affidavit was sealed by the court,
The 54-year-old Merritt is married with five children, including one stepchild, according to his social media posts.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Merritt’s listed attorney.
A well-respected defensive assistant who has worked in the NFL since 2001, Merritt has spent the past seven seasons with the Chiefs following 13 years with the New York Giants.
Chiefs defensive coach Dave Merritt on the Red Carpet before the Super Bowl Championship Ring Ceremony on June 15, 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri
Along with his sons, Kansas City Chiefs defensive back coach Dave Merritt, right, celebrates after a 31-20 victory in Super Bowl LIV against the San Francisco 49ers on February 2, 2020
The five-time Super Bowl champion has worked as an assistant NFL coach since 2001
Between the two franchises, Merritt has worked on five Super Bowl-champion teams.
He’s also coached a number of Pro Bowl players, including Jackrabbit Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Antrel Rolle and James Bradberry in New York, as well as Tyrann Mathieu and Trent McDuffie in Kansas City.
He’ll be relied on heavily this year to help develop rookie cornerback and sixth-overall draft pick Mansoor Delane, while continuing to work with second-year starter Nohl Williams.
Although he’s currently being used a defensive backs coach in Kansas City, Merritt actually played linebacker at North Carolina State before becoming a seventh-round draft pick in 1993.
He played for the Miami Dolphins for one season before a three-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals. Merritt also had a stop with NFL Europe in 1997 before moving into coaching at Tennessee-Chattanooga.