Originally posted by Cisco0623:
Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
What don't you like about his body of work in that role?
My only question is why he hasn't been a coordinator thus far? He's apparently a very well respected DB coach, won multiple SBs with the Giants, won three with the Chiefs thus far but he's never been a particularly hot name to be DC. Even when Spagnuolo took the Rams job he didn't bring this guy along.
So what have all these other teams being thinking that no one has yet seen fit to make him a coordinator despite an impeccable resume?
It's extremely rare for someone to have been an assistant as long as he has and to go on to be a coordinator. Even more rare to have success doing it.
All it takes is someone willing to take that chance.... Like when your wife said yes 😂
Merritt was asked about the prospect of a defensive coordinator position back in early January, leading to this gem:
"One of the things that my wife Yolanda and I spoke about decades ago was that, no matter what, I wasn't going to pursue any type of coordinator job while my kids were young," said Merritt. "Meaning, the fact that I wanted to be there Friday night games. I wanted to be there Saturday, if I could, to go to some games. And you can ask my wife, Yolanda. She'll tell you the same thing. So 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 be the best defensive coach I can be for my guys. 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 is 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. And what we 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, and I don't want to lose that right now."
Merritt was then pressed for details on his family, and he revealed that he had children of 33 years, 27 years and 25 years.
"Then my wife wouldn't stop chasing me," smiled Merritt. "So now we have a 15 and a 17-year-old. So we waited eight years, and so I had to start all over again. So right now, we have a sophomore and junior in high school here at Blue Valley, so [I] have a couple more years."
Perhaps that timeline has now sped up — because the right opportunity has arrived.
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/2/28/24086061/chiefs-news-dave-merritt-49ers-defensive-coordinator