Dave Toub; Donald Trump
Dave Toub; Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Nov. 11 and said he hates the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rule
Less than two weeks later, Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub was asked about the president's opinions
Toub candidly claimed that the president "doesn’t even know what he’s looking at"
Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub is challenging President Donald Trump's opinions on recent NFL rule changes.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, Toub, 63, was asked about the president’s criticism of the NFL's dynamic kickoff rule, which went into effect in the 2024-2025 season to limit the number of full-speed collisions and create more return opportunities on kicks.
Toub told reporters that the president “doesn’t even know what he’s looking at.”
“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 serves as assistant head coach to Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid. Toub, who is also the special teams coordiantor, has worked with the Chiefs for 13 seasons.
Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub oversees warmups during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans on December 18, 2022 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub oversees warmups during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans on December 18, 2022 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The dynamic kickoff rule has all kicking team players, aside from the kicker, line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. "The 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone," per the NFL site. "The kicker also can't cross the vicinity of the 50-yard line until ball touches the ground or player in landing zone or end zone."
The league claims the new rule is much safer, and the kickoff return rate has increased to 81.3% in the 2025 season.
Trump, 79, appeared on The Pat McAfee Showon Nov. 11 and said he hates the new rule, calling it "terrible" and "demeaning."
“I think it hurts the game and hurts the pageantry," Trump said. "I’ve told that to [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell. And I don’t think it’s any safer. I mean you still have guys crashing into each other.”
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks during a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (L) in the Oval Office of the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks during a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (L) in the Oval Office of the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
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Trump said, "The ball is in the air and nobody is moving. It’s supposed to be when the ball is in the air, when the ball is played you’re supposed to be moving.”
“The NFL, they do what they want to do. I don’t think they’ll change,” he said, before noting he wants the rule to stay only within the NFL. “I hope college football doesn’t change, because the power of the kickoff was so beautiful. I don't want to say what it reminds me of because I'll get myself into big trouble. But it is not football."