Kansas City Chiefs Coach Dave Toub Fires Back at Trump: Says President ‘Has No Idea’ About New Kickoff Rule
Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub isn’t holding back when it comes to President Donald Trump’s criticism of the NFL’s new kickoff format.
During a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 20, Toub responded to Trump’s recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where the president called the NFL’s newly implemented “dynamic kickoff rule” “terrible,” “demeaning,” and harmful to the sport.
The 63-year-old Chiefs coach strongly disagreed with Trump’s take, telling reporters that the president simply doesn’t understand how the rule works.
“He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule,” Toub said. “Take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.”
Toub, who also serves as Kansas City’s assistant head coach under Andy Reid, has been with the organization for 13 seasons and is widely respected as one of the NFL’s top special teams minds.
What the Dynamic Kickoff Rule Actually Does
The NFL introduced the dynamic kickoff rule for the 2024–2025 season in an effort to reduce full-speed collisions and create safer, more exciting return opportunities.
Under the rule:
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All kicking-team players except the kicker must line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
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These 10 players cannot move until the ball touches the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone.
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The kicker cannot cross the vicinity of the 50-yard line until the ball touches the ground or a player.
According to the NFL, the change has significantly improved player safety and increased the kickoff return rate to 81.3% during the 2025 season.
Trump Calls the New Rule ‘Terrible’ and ‘Demeaning’
Trump, 79, blasted the rule during his Nov. 11 interview, insisting it damages the “pageantry” of football.
“I think it hurts the game,” Trump said. “I don’t think it’s any safer. You still have guys crashing into each other.”
He argued that the moment the ball is in the air should be when players move, calling the league’s adjustment unnecessary.
Trump also added that he hopes college football avoids adopting the rule, saying the traditional kickoff is “too powerful and too beautiful” to change.
The Debate Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon
The NFL appears committed to the rule for now, and coaches like Dave Toub believe the league made the right call. Trump, on the other hand, says he doesn’t expect the NFL to reverse course—but he personally wants the old version back.
As the 2024-2025 season continues, the dynamic kickoff rule remains one of the most polarizing changes the league has made in years.
