The NFL’s dynamic kickoff era wrapped up its second season with mixed reviews, and the debate over its future isn’t cooling down anytime soon. The league rolled out the new format in 2024 hoping to inject life back into special teams while keeping players safer.
More returns came back into the game, which was the goal, but not everyone bought into the trade-offs that came with it. The updated structure brought plenty of conversation. Coaches had opinions, fans had takes, and even President Donald Trump jumped into the mix.
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He didn’t hold back either, calling the system “demeaning” to the sport and making it clear he wanted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to scrap the whole thing and bring back the old rules.
Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub wasn’t having any of it.
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“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at,” Toub said on Thursday. “He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule. Take that for what it’s worth. I hope he hears it.”
#Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub on Donald Trump not liking the NFL’s new kickoff rule:
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on. Take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.”
(🎥 @SportsRadio810)pic.twitter.com/kftY1tbWWF
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 20, 2025
Trump’s beef with the revamped kickoff comes down to one thing: the forced pause. Under the current setup, the kicking unit lines up at the opponent’s 40-yard line while the return team waits between their own 30 and 35. Nobody moves until the ball lands or touches a returner.
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Donald Trump made his feelings known on “The Pat McAfee Show,” arguing the rule strips away the sport’s natural flow and pageantry. He said collisions still happen anyway, so the safety argument doesn’t hold water in his eyes.
The Washington Commanders kickoff against the Miami Dolphins during the 2025 NFL Madrid Game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The league isn’t standing still though. Touchbacks now go to the 35-yard line for 2025, up from the 30 last season and the 25 before that.
The NFL keeps adjusting, trying to find that sweet spot between excitement and safety. Whether they’ve found it yet remains the question everyone’s still asking.
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