Chiefs coach responds to Trump’s criticism of NFL kickoff rule: ‘I hope he listens to it’
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Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub reacted Thursday to President Donald Trump’s criticism of the NFL’s new kickoff as the team prepares for its game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Trump has been vocal that he doesn’t like the NFL’s kickoff rules, which were made permanent this year.
The most recent criticism came when he appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week, calling it “terrible.”
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left, watches President Donald Trump shake the hand of a young fan while attending an NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (John McDonnell/Getty Images)
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at,” Toub said when reporters asked him about it. “He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule. Take it for what it’s worth. And I hope he listens to it.”
Trump was on the ESPN show for a Veterans Day special and had more criticism of the rules.
“I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so degrading, and I think it hurts the game. It hurts the show,” Trump said. “I told (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell, and I don’t think it’s any safer. I mean, there are still guys crashing into each other.”
In September, the president called the dynamic kickoff rule “sissy football.”
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Dave Toub, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, leaves the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019. (Denny Medley/USA Today Sports)
“The NFL needs to get rid of that ridiculous new starting rule,” he wrote on Truth Social. “How can they make such a big, radical change so easily and quickly? It’s at least as dangerous as the ‘normal’ kickoff and looks like hell.
“The ball moves, and the players don’t, the exact opposite of what American football is about. Sissy football is bad for America and bad for the NFL! Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas? It’s like trying to ‘roll back’ the golf ball so it doesn’t go (almost!) as far. Fortunately, college football will remain the same, hopefully forever!!”
The NFL has said the dynamic kickoff system is safer and has produced more kickoff returns.
Dave Toub, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs during a game against the New York Giants on September 21, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The rule states that the ball is kicked from the 35-yard line, but each player on the kicking team must wait at the 40 until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20-yard line.
The News contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.