Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach Dave Toub pushed back at President Donald Trump amid his latest criticism of the new NFL kick-off rule, insisting the president has completely misunderstood how it works.
Trump has repeatedly attacked the “dynamic kickoff” this season, calling it “terrible” and “demeaning” in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show last week.
Toub was asked about those remarks during Thursday’s press conference. His reply was blunt.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at,” Toub said. “He has no idea what’s going on with the kick-off rule. Take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.”
NFL kick-off rule criticised by Trump
The NFL introduced the dynamic kick-off rule to improve safety and increase return plays.
All ten non-kicker players on the kicking team line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line and cannot move until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing zone.
The league says the change has reduced high-speed collisions and lifted the return rate to more than 80 percent this season.
Trump has rejected that argument. He told McAfee the rule “hurts the game and hurts the pageantry,” adding he has shared those concerns with commissioner Roger Goodell.
“It’s supposed to be when the ball is in the air, when the ball is played, you’re supposed to be moving,” Trump said. “I don’t think it’s any safer.”
He also urged college football to avoid adopting the change.
Chiefs coach calls out misinformation
Toub has spent 13 seasons running one of the NFL’s most detailed special teams units. He made it clear Trump’s criticisms do not reflect the work or strategy behind the rule.
The coach stressed that player alignment, spacing and timing are now central to the play and argued that few people outside NFL coaching circles understand the adjustments.
Trump’s attack is the most high-profile pushback the league has received, but Toub said the rule has already created a cleaner look for kickoffs.
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