Overview
- In a Nov. 20 media session, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said President Trump "doesn't even know what he's looking at" regarding the league's new kickoff format.
- Trump criticized the setup on The Pat McAfee Show on Nov. 11, calling it "terrible" and arguing the pause before players can move damages the game's pageantry.
- The rule has kickoffs from the 35-yard line with coverage players held at the receiving 40 until the ball lands or is touched in the 20-yard landing zone, and 2025 touchbacks place the ball at the 35 to discourage them.
- League data reported by The Athletic showed 79.3% of kickoffs were returned through Week 7 this season, a dramatic jump from 2024.
- The NFL reported a nearly 43% drop in documented head injuries on kickoffs in 2024, while 2025 data through Week 7 showed concussions rising to 1.18 per 100 kickoffs from 0.09 a year earlier.