President Donald Trump lashed out at the "ridiculous looking" new kickoff rule for the NFL, calling it "'Sissy' football".
Newsweek has reached out to NFL media contacts via email for comment.
The dynamic kickoff rule moved touchbacks to the 35-yard line instead of the 30. It is intended to increase the rate of kickoff returns and reduce the rate of injuries.
"The NFL has to get rid of that ridiculous looking new Kickoff Rule," Trump posted to his Truth Social platform on Monday, September 15.
"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 is moving, and the players are not, 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 (nearly!) as far. Fortunately, college football will remain the same, hopefully forever!!"
New NFL Kickoff Rule
The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kickoff put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kickoff returns increasing from a record-low 21.8 percent in 2023 to 32.8 percent last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game's most dangerous play.
The rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play.
The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43 percent on returns, with a significant reduction as well in lower-body injuries.
The problem last season was many teams still opted to kick the ball in the end zone because the touchback wasn't punitive enough.
The average starting field position on a touchback was only 2.4 yards further than the average starting position after returns, which was the 27.6-yard line.
By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60 percent and 70 percent, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.
The league also approved a small tweak to how blockers on the return team are allowed to line up in the setup zone that could lead to longer returns.
Teams returned just over 76 percent of kicks in the preseason, up from 70 percent in the 2024 preseason. But that number typically drops in the regular season when teams don't use kickoffs to evaluate players for spots at the end of the roster.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.
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