Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach Dave Toub delivered a sharp rebuke of former President Donald Trump following his public criticism of the NFL's new kickoff format.
A Heated Exchange Over Football Rules
The confrontation occurred during a press conference on Thursday, November 20, 2025. When questioned about Trump's comments, Toub, who also serves as the team's special teams coordinator, did not hold back his opinion.
"He doesn't even know what he's looking at," stated Toub, directly addressing the former president's understanding of the sport. "He has no idea what's going on with the kickoff rule. So, I mean, take that for what it's worth. And I hope he hears it."
Understanding the NFL's Dynamic Kickoff
The controversy centres on the "dynamic kickoff" rule, which was implemented at the start of the previous NFL season. Trump has been a persistent critic of the change, telling ESPN's Pat McAfee, "I think it's so terrible. I think it's so demeaning. I think it hurts the game, it hurts the pageantry." He also claimed to have shared these views directly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The key changes to the kickoff rule include:
- The kickoff team (excluding the kicker) lines up much further downfield.
- Players from both teams cannot move until the ball has landed in the designated "landing zone" or the end zone.
The primary goals of this new configuration are to encourage more kick returns and, crucially, to reduce the high rate of injuries associated with traditional kickoffs.
Rule's Impact and Mixed Results
The effectiveness of the new rule is a topic of debate. The NFL has pointed to data from the previous season showing a significant drop in the concussion rate per kickoff return, suggesting the change is achieving its safety objective.
However, a recent report from The Athletic indicates that the concussion rate has been trending upward again during the current season, complicating the narrative.
On the field, the rule has already produced exciting moments. Just a day after Toub's comments, on Thursday, Ray Davis of the Buffalo Bills celebrated his 26th birthday by returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in a game against the Houston Texans, demonstrating the return-generating potential the league desired.
HuffPost sought a comment from the White House on the matter but did not receive an immediate response.
