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Dave Merritt enters his fourth season as the defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

Dave Merritt enters his fourth season as the defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

In 2021, Merritt coached S Tyrann Mathieu to his third Pro Bowl. Mathieu led the team in interceptions with three, including a pick-six. S Dan Sorensen followed up close behind with two interceptions and a pick-six.

In 2020, Merritt coached S Tyrann Mathieu to his second-consecutive first team AP All-Pro nomination and third of his career, first at the safety position. Mathieu led all NFL safeties with six interceptions in the regular season, adding one in the postseason. Merritt also mentored rookie CB L'Jarius Sneed who was the highest-graded rookie CB of the 2020 season by Pro Football Focus.

In 2019, Merritt helped coach S Tyrann Mathieu to an AP All-Pro Team Nomination. Mathieu ranked third in the NFL in passes defended amongst safeties with 12, adding 75 tackles (63 solo), four interceptions, and 2.0 sacks.

Merritt joined Kansas City after spending the 2018 season with the defensive backs at the Arizona Cardinals, where he coached CB Patrick Peterson to his eighth career Pro Bowl. Before the Cardinals, he spent 14 seasons with the New York Giants as defensive assistant (2004-2005) and secondary/safeties coach (2006-2017). Merritt worked there with the Chiefs current Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, where they led a defense that helped win Super Bowl XLII. He also went on to win Super Bowl XLVI, both teams under Head Coach Tom Coughlin.

With the Giants, he coached multiple Pro Bowlers: All-Pro S Antrel Rolle, S Landon Collins, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and CB Janoris Jenkins; Collins and Rolle both leading tacklers. During his tenure with the secondary/safeties, the Giants backfield recorded 198 interceptions, which was tied for sixth in the NFL during that time frame.

His coaching career in the NFL began as defensive assistant/linebacker coach for three seasons with the New York Jets (2001-2003) under Head Coach Herm Edwards and Defensive Coordinator Ted Cottrell. Prior to the Jets, he had 2 stops at the collegiate level, outside linebacker coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga (1997) and the same position along with defensive ends and defensive line at Virginia Military Institute (1998-2000).

While earning his Political Science degree, Merritt was a linebacker for the North Carolina State Wolfpack (1989-1992) and was named first team All-ACC (1992) after leading the conference in tackles. He was then drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round (1993), and also played three seasons for the Arizona Cardinals. In his last season before transitioning to coaching, he played for NFL Europe's Dusseldorf Rheinfire, who competed in the World Bowl Championship that year (1997).

A standout player from Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, he was inducted to the school's first Hall of Fame class (2012).

Education: North Carolina State (1994). Born: Raleigh, N.C. Family: Wife - Yolonda; Sons - David Jr., Devin, Dawson and Daughters - Drayah and Kiki.