Chiefs coach slams Donald Trump over criticism of NFL's new kickoff rule

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub called Donald Trump today. The Chiefs coach responded to the POTUS when asked about his disdain for the NFL's new kickoff format. Trump has made it clear repeatedly that he doesn't like the new rule. He calls it “degrading” to football and claimed it destroys the “scenery” of the sport.

However, Toub made it clear that he thinks the president has no idea what he's talking about.

“He doesn't even know what he's looking at,” Toub said Thursday. “He has no idea what's going on with the pitching rule… I hope he listens.”

The NFL's new kickoff format was introduced in 2024 and tweaked again for 2025. It's designed to increase yields while reducing high-speed collisions. Trump, speaking on The Pat McAfee Show last Tuesday, he broke the delay and asked commissioner Roger Goodell to restore the old rules.

However, coaches like Toub argue that the league's adjustments, including moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line, have made kickoffs more exciting and strategic.

Read also: $30,000,000 Jaguars star rips Amon-Ra St. Brown to do Donald Trump dance during Lions vs Commanders

Read also: The 10 best memes mocking Pat McAfee for hosting Donald Trump's Veterans Day call on ESPN

Donald Trump was not happy with the Lions vs Commanders game

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made history on November 9. He became the first sitting president since 1978 to attend an NFL regular season game. He watched the Detroit Lions crush the Washington Commanders 44–22 at Northwest Stadium.

However, Trump was not impressed by the quality of the game. During a Tuesday call-in to “The Pat McAfee Show,” Trump criticized both the NFL's new kickoff rule and the quality of the game itself.

“I hate the fresh start … it's so terrible, so degrading, it hurts the show,” Trump said.

For action on the field, POTUS said:

“It was a little bit of a blowout … the game wasn't the best,” Trump told McAfee, even taking a nod at Washington's name change.

Jared Goff had 320 yards and three touchdowns, while the Commanders' Marcus Mariota had 213 yards and two touchdowns in the game.