Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach Dave Toub pummeled President Donald Trump for his criticism of the NFL’s kickoff on Thursday.
The subject came up at a press conference, and Toub didn’t hold back.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at,” said Toub, the special teams coordinator. “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.”
Trump has persistently scoffed at the so-called “dynamic kickoff” implemented last season. “I think it’s so terrible,” he told ESPN’s Pat McAfee recently. “I think it’s so demeaning. I think it hurts the game, it hurts the pageantry. I’ve told that to [Commissioner] Roger Goodell.”
Among the rule changes, the kickoff team (but not the kicker) is situated much further downfield, and both teams cannot move until the ball hits the field or a player in the so-called “landing zone” or end zone. The goal is to generate more returns and reduce injuries.
On Thursday, Ray Davis of the Buffalo Bills ran back a kick 97 yards for a touchdown in an eventual loss to the Houston Texans.
The NFL claimed the concussion rate per the number of kickoff returns dropped significantly last season, but The Athletic reported last week that the rate is going up this season.
HuffPost reached out early Friday to the White House for comment and didn’t immediately hear back.
