Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who many felt was the mastermind behind their victory in Las Vegas, has also signed a contract extension to stay in Kansas City. However, according to reports, KC defensive backs coach Dave Merritt is set to interview for the vacant San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator job in what could be a bitter blow to ‘Big Red’s’ coaching unit.
It already comes after Reid made the decision to release a two-time SB winner. The 49ers’ DC position has recently opened up after they fired Steve Wilks after their overtime loss to the Chiefs last month. If Merritt were to land the job it would be a big loss for the Chiefs, particularly as it would be to a direct Super Bowl rival.
Merritt has been in his current job since 2019 and has excelled in nurturing promising young talent. He has overseen the development of breakout cornerbacks, including L’Jarius Sneed, whose future is uncertain and could be enticed to follow Merritt should he secure the job with the Niners.
As well as Sneed, the current Kansas backs coach has also had a hand in developing other talented secondaries including Trent McDuffie, Charvarius Ward, Juan Thornhill, Rashad Fenton, Bryan Cook and Jaylen Watson. The 52-year-old former linebacker was a seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 1993 NFL Draft. That same year he moved to the Cardinals where he played for two seasons until 1995.
Merritt (right) could be replacing Wilks (left) as the 49ers defensive coordinator next season
Sneed is looking to get paid and could join Merritt in San Francisco
Merritt is a five-time Super Bowl winning coach with bags of experience. He was secondary and safeties coach for the New York Giants between 2006-2007 and was part of their success in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI. The ex LB joined the Chiefs in 2019 and has been a part of all three of their Super Bowl victories.
Merritt’s exit could represent a double blow for the Chiefs if he is indeed able to convince Sneed to join him in San Francisco. The Chiefs have reportedly granted last season’s star cornerback permission to seek a trade. The organisation have allegedly informed Sneed that they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him before the March 5 deadline but they could still decide to trade him before the mid-July deadline.
The 2020 fourth-rounder has become a consistent performer for the back-to-back champions and didn’t allow a single touchdown during the 2023 regular season despite being targeted 100 times. He has 10 interceptions, 40 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and 6.5 sacks in his career and recently made clear his desire to get paid this offseason. “Pay me,” Sneed said on the ‘Up & Adams’ show with Kay Adams last month. “Pay me, pay me. That’s what I’ve got to say – pay me.”
Sneed won’t be short of suitors should he decide to walk away from Kansas City. If the desire to play for a contender is near the top of his wishlist then he needn’t look much further than the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan’s team are a perennial NFC powerhouse and Super Bowl contender with stack-loads of A-list talent. Add Merritt, and a top-tier contract into that mix, and that could well be enough to convince Sneed to make the move and pass up the oppurtunity to three-peat in 2024.
