Chiefs coach brushes off Trump’s criticism of NFL kickoff rules
A disagreement moves to the field
When Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub met with reporters late this week, he expected questions about training camp adjustments and roster competition. Instead, he found himself responding to comments from President Donald Trump through CNN News, who had openly criticized the NFL’s newer kickoff format during a recent media appearance.
Trump offered his take shortly after becoming the first sitting president since Jimmy Carter to attend a regular season NFL game, according to the Associated Press. His appearance earlier this month placed added national attention on a rule change that has been debated since its experimental rollout in 2023 and its permanent adoption this year.
How the updated kickoff works
The NFL’s kickoff overhaul was designed to reduce violent, high speed collisions, a long standing concern as concussion research has continued to evolve.
Under the current alignment, the ball is kicked from the 35 yard line, but the coverage team must wait at the 40 until the ball is touched or lands in the designated zone near the 20 yard line.
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The league also created separate procedures for kicks that drop short, bounce into the end zone, or reach the landing area without being fielded.
The system is loosely modeled after a format used in the XFL, which showed that return rates could rise without dramatically increasing injury risk. According to AP reporting, NFL owners voted this year to make the design permanent after one season of data showing more returns and fewer dangerous impacts.
Trump’s criticism
Trump voiced strong objections during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, saying, “I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning, and I think it hurts the game. It hurts the pageantry,” adding that he had shared the same opinion with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He also questioned whether the system truly improves safety.
The comments came amid a broader national discussion about how much the league should alter the sport in the name of health protection, and whether spectacle and tradition can coexist with modern safety mandates.
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Toub pushes back
Toub, a veteran coach who has spent more than two decades building special teams units in Chicago and Kansas City, did not hide his frustration when the subject of Trump’s remarks came up. Speaking after practice on Thursday, he said the president’s critique reflects a misunderstanding of the format.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule,” Toub said, raising his voice more than usual for a routine media session. He added that he hoped the president would hear his response.
A rule change that keeps stirring debate
While league executives point to reduced injury metrics and a rise in strategic returns, critics argue the rule disrupts tradition and limits the open field chaos that once made kickoffs unpredictable.
Some players have expressed mixed feelings, noting that the new structure changes how roster roles are valued, especially for young players who used kickoffs as a pathway to make teams.
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Trump’s entry into the debate has added a political dimension not typically associated with special teams play. For the Chiefs, though, Toub made clear that the focus remains on adjusting to the rules as they exist, not on the commentary surrounding them.
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