David Bell
I admit it: I learned that DB coach Dave Merritt was interviewing for the 49er’s DC job and I feared he would depart.
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When that didn’t happen, I uttered my thanks to the NFL Football gods throughout the rest of the day. Merritt knows how to defend against a West-Coast Offense but he was not, apparently, meant to go to the West Coast.
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Merritt and players celebrate Super Bowl Victory – Dave Merritt Photo credit
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Merritt has been able to help select Chiefs draft choices, and those picks have shone brightly as the Chiefs loggerhead in the secondary. When you think of the draft picks that were lower in the draft pecking order but who were able to contribute mightily to the effort in the secondary, much credit must be given to Merritt for coaching them up to contribute in their rookie seasons.
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Think On the Success of the Last 4 Seasons
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- L’Jarius Sneed – is now a lockdown CB – Round 4 draft pick in 2020 – Keep your fingers crossed that the tag works with Jay
- Trent McDuffie – is already an All-Pro Selection in his 2nd year – round 1 draft pick
- Joshua Williams – drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 Draft – had a significant role his rookie year
- Jaylen Watson – drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 Draft – had a significant role his rookie year
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Then, think of Merritt Working with the Safeties
The Chiefs brought Justin Reid to the fold as the SS a couple years ago. Mike Edwards was hired for the FS role, and both players played some excellent football in the Chiefs Secondary. KC also drafted Brian Cook, who was selected in round 2 of the 2022 draft. When Cook was injured, Edwards stepped to the fore. Also, in 2022, KC drafted Chamarri Connor in the 4th round of that draft. Brian Cook made big strides in 2022 and was the starter at FS in 2023. When he was injured, Mike Edwards stepped in and performed admirably! Connor also saw more playing time as the 2023 season marched forward, validating his choice in the draft. Also, Brett Veach signed former Chicago Bears Safety, Deon Bush, a 2018 4th-round pick who made big plays in the 2023 season.
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Potential in Becoming a Defensive Coordinator
Merritt was promoted in the NFL Accelerator Program and is well-positioned to take the next step. I think Merritt is ready to become a Defensive Coordinator in the NFL. I am pleased, however, that it won’t happen in this off-season. In an article written by Jordan Foote for SI.com called “KC Chiefs Defensive Backs Coach Dave Merritt Interviewing for 49ers DC Job” he quotes Dave Merritt as saying:
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“One of the things my wife Yolanda and I spoke about decades ago was that no matter what, I wasn’t going to pursue any type of coordinating job while my kids were young. Meaning, then, is the fact is I wanted to be there [at] Friday night games. I wanted to be there Saturday if I could to go to some games. You can ask my wife Yolanda, and she’ll tell you the same thing. When that time arrives and if I’m afforded a position to be able to even go interview, I will consult with my wife and then we will take the next step. But right now, I’m focused on trying to make sure that I’ll be the best defensive coach I can be for my guys.”
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Merritt went on to observe:
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“A lot of guys think the grass is greener on the other side and then all of a sudden, you can go chase the money. But I’ve always told my young coaches that are around me, ‘You want years of service. Years of service is more important than money, because money’s going to come and go. It’s fleeting. Honestly, you take that chair as a coordinator, you’re responsible for the entire unit and now some of your closeness goes away. What we’ve experienced in the defensive back room and even when I was coaching linebackers, that bond that I’ve had with my players over the decades has been precious to me. I don’t want to lose that right now.”
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But the process for Dave Merritt to move up has begun.
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The Underlying Meld
Dave Merritt has been an important part of five (5) teams that have won the Super Bowl. What Dave Merritt has accomplished with the current Chiefs roster is melding the mix of defensive backfield players, rookies, and veterans into a cohesive secondary unit. They have played well enough to ensure the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Chiefs defense under DC Steve Spagnuolo was the #2 defense in the NFL in 2023. That is a significant accomplishment that the Chiefs have not seen from a defense in two decades, and the secondary was completely dependable in that effort.
With Merritt in KC and assembling a cast of players similar to 2023, I anticipate Merritt will get similar results in 2024. L’Jarius Sneed has been tagged for 2024 (Non-Exclusive). Of course, Sneed can seek more money from other teams. The return of Chris Jones on a long-term contract remains unresolved, but things are looking up.
Merritt is a native North Carolinian born in Raleigh. He played college ball as a linebacker for NC State and was a late-round Miami Dolphins draft pick himself (7th round of the 1993 NFL Draft, pick 191). Later, he joined the Jets coaching staff in 2001 as a defensive assistant and LB Coach. Merritt also coached for the NY Giants and became the defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. KC then hired Dave as the DB coach in 2019, and his success continued to build with the Chiefs and we have reaped great results ever since.
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49ers DC Steve Willis and Chiefs DB Coach Dave Merritt At Super Bowl LVIII -George Walker AP photo
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I think it’s obvious that the NFL has great respect for Merritt, a tale told by Merritt being interviewed for Defensive Coordinator by the 49ers. Some tales are told over several seasons in the NFL Coaching World. Merritt is exemplary of such tales. Merritt, like DL Coach Joe Cullen, and LB Coach Brendan Daly help meld all things defense for DC Steve Spagnuolo.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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