Kansas City Chiefs hire David Merritt to coach defensive backs

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired away a new member of their defensive coaching staff from the Jacksonville Jaguars defense in David Merritt.

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired the first official addition to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s staff with the addition of defensive backs coach David Merritt, who served on staff with Steve Wilks and the Arizona Cardinals just last year.

Merritt is a former seventh-round pick himself back in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He lasted a single season in South Florida before heading west to the Arizona Cardinals for two seasons. He also lasted one year in the World League of American Football (yes, that was a Euro minor league attempt for those of you who are younger Chiefs fans).

Merritt has coached at all levels of the defense but has spent the most time in the secondary, the longest stint of which lasted from 2006 to 2017 with the New York Giants as he coached the secondaries of two Super Bowl winning teams in 2007 and 2011 and later mentored young stars like Landon Collins. Interestingly enough, Merritt also served under former Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards during his tenure with the New York Jets.

There are more moves to come because, as of press time, the Chiefs coaching page still includes both Al Harris and Emmitt Thomas as defensive backs coaches. Maybe one or more will stay. Someone could alter roles. Perhaps Thomas could retire. Nothing is known at this point, but it’s clear that Spagnuolo has been given permission to vet his current staff and make hires as he wishes to implement his defense.

Spagnuolo was spurned already since being hired by the Chiefs by at least one potential coach. Antonio Pierce turned down the opportunity to be the Chiefs linebackers coach in order to stay at Arizona State in the same position.