The debate over the NFL’s modern kickoff rule picked up new heat when
Donald Trump blasted the league for altering a play he believes defines the rhythm of football. His comments triggered a firm pushback from Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub, who dismissed the criticism with rare bluntness. Toub has guided Kansas City’s special teams for more than a decade, and he was in no mood to entertain arguments he felt overlooked player safety and the reality of today’s game.
When asked about Trump’s remarks, Toub did not hesitate. The 63-year-old coach said the president’s opinion simply missed the point and added that the comments carried no weight with him. His response set the tone for a discussion that has now extended beyond football strategy and into the value of evolving the sport to protect players.
Chiefs assistant takes aim at Trump, saying he misread the entire kickoff rule before calling it ‘demeaning’
The NFL has been reshaping the kickoff in back-to-back seasons as the league tries to reduce head injuries and keep the play alive. Internal data showed concussions on kickoffs dropped by nearly 43 percent with the new approach. The league also reported an 81.3 percent return rate this season, a sharp rise from previous years. Still, Trump argued the changes robbed the sport of its identity. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, he called the NFL kickoff “terrible” and “demeaning,” adding in the interview, “I hate the kickoff in football.”
He expanded on that frustration by saying, “I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning. I think it hurts the game, it hurts the pageantry. I’ve told that to Roger Goodell. And I don’t think it’s any safer. I mean, you still have guys crashing into each other. It’s the opposite of what the game – the ball is in the air, nobody’s moving. It’s supposed to be when the ball is in the air, when the ball is played, you’re supposed to be moving. The pageantry of the game is so badly hurt.”
Toub pushed back with force. “He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule,” he said. “Take that for what it’s worth. I hope he hears it.”
Toub’s stance carries weight in Kansas City, where he also serves as assistant head coach to Andy Reid. He has coached Harrison Butker, one of the Chiefs’ most productive scorers and an outspoken Trump supporter. Even with those ties, Toub kept the focus on safety and the future of the game.
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Read MorePrantik Prabal Roy is a passionate sports writer who eats, breathes, and lives the game. Since 2020, he has been in the content writing industry after completion of his Master's degree in English literature and covering the NFL since 2024 with sharp insights, while also diving into the NHL and MLB with equal enthusiasm. He loves crafting content that drives traffic without sacrificing quality. He blends storytelling with analysis to keep readers hooked. When he’s not writing, Prantik can be found cheering on the Buffalo Bills or diving into books that celebrate the world of sports.
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