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Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub fired back at President Trump’s recent criticism of the NFL’s kickoff rules, dismissing the former president’s football knowledge entirely.
Trump labeled the league’s dynamic kickoff format “terrible” and “demeaning” during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, claiming it damages the game’s traditional pageantry.
“I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning, and I think it hurts the game. It hurts the pageantry,” Trump said while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Veteran’s Day. “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.”
Toub didn’t hold back when reporters asked for his reaction to Trump’s comments.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on with the kickoff rule,” Toub responded bluntly. “So take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.”
The exchange highlights growing debate around the NFL’s new approach to kickoffs.
Return of the Return Game
Despite Trump’s criticisms, data suggests the new format is actually revitalizing kickoff returns – a once-thrilling element of the game that had become increasingly rare due to safety concerns.
ProFootballTalk reports that the 2024 season – the first year implementing the “dynamic” kickoff format – saw 920 kickoff returns with seven resulting in touchdowns.
The numbers tell an interesting story.
By mid-October this year, the league had already recorded 764 kickoff returns, putting 2025 on pace to significantly exceed last season’s total. Through Week 12 (with one game played), four kickoffs have been returned for touchdowns – already more than half of last year’s total with six weeks remaining in the regular season.
The new kickoff format was designed to balance player safety with maintaining an exciting aspect of the game. Players now line up in a formation that reduces high-speed collisions while creating more opportunities for returns rather than touchbacks.
Trump’s comments about the rule changes being “demeaning” seem particularly at odds with the statistical reality – the dynamic kickoff appears to be generating more action, not less.
#Chiefs ST Coorinator Dave Toub responds to Trump criticizing the new kickoff rules.
He says, “He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at.” pic.twitter.com/tPDPEgRA4G
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) November 20, 2025
Toub, widely regarded as one of the league’s top special teams minds, has seen his units adapt well to the new format. His dismissal of Trump’s criticism carries particular weight given his expertise in this specific area of the game.
The NFL has yet to officially respond to Trump’s comments about the kickoff rules or Goodell’s alleged conversation with the former president.
