NFL faces criticism from Trump over major kickoff change: 'The beginning of the end!'

On Friday, former President Donald Trump criticized the NFL's kickoff change on Truth Social.

Trump wrote: "I can't believe the NFL is effectively getting rid of the always exciting Kick Off Return. Such an exciting part of football. What are they doing? END OF THE BEGINNING!"

The new NFL kickoff rule has significantly altered the game's traditional appearance and operation, leading to some early-season confusion among old-school fans.

The new rules have altered the alignment of both teams and introduced zones that affect what players can do.

The kicking team's players will now have to line up with a foot on the receiving team's 40-yard line, instead of the 35-yard line, and wait for the ball to hit the ground or the player to be in the "landing zone" or end zone before starting to run. The "landing zone" is from the receiving team's 20-yard line to the goal line.

The designated "setup zone" for the receiving team is a five-yard area from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line, where at least nine players must line up facing the kicking team.

At least seven of the nine players must be positioned on the 35-yard line, while those not on the line must remain in the setup zone beyond the hash marks. Both kicking and receiving team players are prohibited from moving until the kick lands on the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone is hit.

The objective of the modifications was to minimize injuries during kickoffs, which have historically been the most hazardous play in football, while simultaneously promoting more returns. The prior regulation required players to run at one another at high speeds from great distances, frequently resulting in high-speed collisions.

The rules for kickoff have been modified multiple times due to the high risk of injury during play.

In 2011, the league shifted kickoffs to the 35-yard line, making it easier to kick the ball deep into the end zone and resulting in more touchbacks. In 2016, touchbacks placed teams at 25 yards, further encouraging them. Last season, returners could call for a fair catch anywhere, not just in the end zone, for a touchback, resulting in the lowest return rate in NFL history.

The league has introduced a new rule to prioritize safety and encourage player returns.

The XFL's kickoff rule has been adopted by the UFL, despite the league's merger with the USFL.

Subscribe to the Planet Chronicle Sports Huddle newsletter and follow our sports coverage on X.