KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub didn’t hold back when asked about President Donald Trump’s criticism of the NFL’s new kickoff rules. Implemented to make the play safer and more exciting, the dynamic kickoff has sparked debate across the league—but Toub isn’t worried about what the former president thinks.
Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978, watched the Washington Commanders face the Detroit Lions earlier this month. Two days later, on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Trump called the league’s kickoff rule “terrible” and “demeaning,” arguing it “hurts the game” and diminishes the pageantry, while claiming it doesn’t make the play safer.
The rule, voted to be permanent this year, requires the ball to be kicked from the 35-yard line, with every player on the kicking team waiting at the 40-yard line until the ball touches the ground or is caught inside the 20-yard line. There are additional stipulations for balls that fail to reach the landing zone, land in the end zone, or bounce off the designated area. The league has maintained the system reduces injuries while still generating more returns.
Toub, who has more than two decades of experience coaching special teams in Chicago and Kansas City, didn’t mince words. “He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule,” said the normally reserved coach, his voice rising. “So take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between league officials, coaches, and public opinion over changes designed to improve safety, while also showing Toub’s willingness to defend the game he’s dedicated his career to. For Toub, the rules—and their intent—speak louder than any outside critique.