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Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub responded to President Donald Trump’s criticism of the NFL’s new kickoff Thursday as the team prepares for their game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Trump has been vocal about his distaste for the NFL’s kickoff rule, which was made permanent this year. The latest criticism came when he appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week and called it “terrible.”
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (L) watches US President Donald Trump shake hands with a young fan as he attends the NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 9, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (John McDonnell/Getty Images)
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at,” Toub said when asked about it during his media availability. “He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule. Take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears that.”
Trump was on the ESPN show for a Veterans Day special and had several criticisms of the rules.
“I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning and I think it hurts the game. It hurts the pageant,” Trump said. “I’ve told (NFL commissioner) Roger Goodell, and I don’t think it’s any safer. I mean, you still have guys bumping into each other.”
In September, the president called the dynamic kickoff rule “cheesy football.”
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Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Dave Toub leaves the field after warming up before the 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 the ridiculous new kickoff rule,” he wrote on Truth Social. “How can they make such a big and sweeping 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 football is all about. ‘Sissy’ football is bad for America and bad for the NFL! Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas? It’s like wanting to ‘roll back’ the golf ball so it doesn’t go (almost!) as far. Fortunately, college football will hopefully stay the same 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 on the sideline during the 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 stated 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.
