The NFL recently introduced a new kickoff format to reduce injuries and make the game safer. The rule, first tested for the 2024 season, changes one of American football’s most iconic plays and prompted a fierce reaction, including fresh criticism from US President Donald Trump.
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A kickoff is the first kick in American football, used to both start the game and restart after a score, determining where the opposing team will have possession of the ball and start.
Under the new system, the kicking team will still begin play from its 35-yard line, but all players except the kicker must line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard line and keep one foot on the ground until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a receiver within the 20-yard line.
This change is intended to reduce the impact of collisions that previously occurred when two rows of players were running toward each other at high speed. The new dynamics bring athletes closer together, reducing moments of bruising and reducing the risk of concussions.
Additionally, kicks that land in the landing zone (between the 20-yard line and the end zone) must be returned, but kicks that land before that area are touchbacks and the ball is placed on the 40-yard line. A kick that reaches the end zone can be controlled or returned by the receiving team.
According to data released by the NFL in February 2025, the new format reduced concussion occurrences by 43% over the past two seasons and increased returns by 57% during the 2024 regular season. Seven kickoffs were returned for touchdowns, the most since 2021.
New York Jets’ Kane Wang-Woo #34 returns kickoff for a touchdown
President Trump criticizes
Despite the positive results, the new format did not satisfy everyone. Appearing on ESPN, President Donald Trump once again criticized the rules, calling them “terrible” and “degrading” to the game.
President Trump responded to the host’s protest by saying, “I hate kickoffs.” “I think it hurts the program. I’ve already said that to Roger Goodell, but I don’t think it’s any safer. You still have players colliding and nobody moves when the ball is in the air. That’s not American football,” he argued.
Trump also compared the new format to the loss of the essence of the sport, saying, “The power of the kickoff is a beautiful thing. It misrepresents the nature of the game. I hope college football stays the same, and I hope that one day the NFL returns to true American football.”
Meanwhile, the league maintains its statement that the current model combines safety and sentiment, with the goal of preserving spectacle without compromising player health.
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