Even before his 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday night, Donald Trump was in full commentary mode—this time, not about politics, but football.
While waiting to see himself on television, the former president couldn’t resist sharing his frustration with one of his favorite targets lately: the NFL’s controversial kickoff rules.
The Former President’s Latest Game-Day Rant
As millions tuned in to watch the matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, Trump appeared to be watching, too.
But instead of analyzing the teams, he took to Truth Social to vent his annoyance at what he called the league’s “ridiculous” new kickoff format.
In all caps—his signature online style—Trump wrote:
“I HATE WATCHING THE NFL’S NEW KICKOFF RULE.
IT’S RIDICULOUS — TAKES THE PAGEANTRY AND GLAMOUR AWAY FROM THE GAME, AND DOES NOTHING FOR SAFETY.
THEY SHOULD CHANGE BACK TO WHAT IT USED TO BE.
HOPEFULLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL WILL NEVER MAKE THIS RIDICULOUS CHANGE! IN THE MEANTIME, I’M GETTING READY TO WATCH PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP (ME!) ON 60 MINUTES.”
For Trump, it was a double feature: criticizing America’s favorite sport while teasing his own TV appearance.
Why Trump Can’t Stand the “Dynamic Kickoff”
The rule that’s driving Trump up the wall is the NFL’s so-called dynamic kickoff, introduced before the 2024 season.
The league rolled it out to reduce high-speed collisions and improve player safety after years of debate about how dangerous kickoffs had become.
However, Trump—and a vocal group of traditionalist fans—argue that the change has stripped away the excitement and spectacle that made kickoff plays so thrilling in the first place.
How the New Kickoff Works
Under the new setup, the kicker still boots the ball from the team’s own 35-yard line, but here’s the twist: the other ten players on the kicking side now start from the opponent’s 40-yard line.
None of them can move until the returning team actually touches the ball.
This means players no longer get a running start, which drastically reduces the kind of hard hits that once defined special teams play—but also the intensity fans associate with the game’s opening and return plays.
A Rule That Changed the Game
Before this change, the NFL had already made several adjustments—in 2011, 2016, and 2018—to minimize concussions and high-impact collisions.
Those earlier modifications worked in one sense: they made the game safer.
But they also led to more touchbacks and fewer returns, something many fans (and apparently Trump) saw as a buzzkill.
When talk began about possibly eliminating kickoffs entirely, the league experimented with new ideas in 2024.
After positive testing, the dynamic kickoff became a permanent feature this season—with even more tweaks added, including moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line.
The Strategy Behind the Change
The NFL says the goal was to keep the play exciting while prioritizing player health.
By moving the touchback spot forward, the league has given kicking teams an incentive to drop the ball just short of the end zone, forcing returns without the most dangerous collisions.
It’s a complex balancing act: safety versus spectacle.
And while the NFL believes it’s found a middle ground, critics like Trump think the league has overcorrected.
Trump’s Longstanding Grudge Against the NFL
This isn’t the first time Trump has clashed with the NFL.
His criticism dates back years—to his days as an owner in the short-lived USFL and more recently, to his political jabs at players protesting during the national anthem.
So his latest complaint isn’t just about football mechanics—it’s part of a long-running feud with a league he’s never quite stopped sparring with.
What Fans Are Saying
Reactions online to Trump’s post were predictably mixed. Some fans agreed that the game has lost some of its spark.
Others pointed out that the rule has helped prevent injuries—especially concussions—that were becoming far too common.
Regardless, Trump’s rant once again managed to turn a Sunday football game into a political and pop culture talking point.
The Final Whistle
As the former president settled in to watch himself on national television, one thing was clear: his passion for criticizing the NFL isn’t going anywhere.
Whether it’s the kickoff rule or something else, Trump seems determined to keep the debate alive—both on and off the field.