Donald Trump and Roger Goodell (Photos by Getty Images)
Count Republican nominee and former United States president Donald Trump among the rapidly growing list of those who oppose the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
Donald Trump has been able to make time to follow the NFL during his hectic schedule as he continues to hold rallies across the nation leading up to the Nov. 5 United States presidential election.
Before the Philadelphia Eagles-Green Bay Packers game in São Paulo, Brazil on Friday night, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to voice his displeasure with the new NFL kickoff rules.
Donald Trump went as far as saying that the new kickoff rules mark the “beginning of the end” for the NFL:
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? BEGINNING OF THE END!
Donald Trump Truth Social 06:59 PM EST 09/06/24 @realDonaldTrump
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 7, 2024
New NFL kickoff rule has become useless. Just kick into end zone.
— Woody Paige (@woodypaige) September 7, 2024
The NFL changed its kickoff rules to enhance player safety while also encouraging more kick returns. One significant change was moving the kicking team’s players to the opposing team’s 40-yard line, with only the kicker starting at his team’s 35-yard line.
The league also implemented a “landing zone” between the team’s goal line and their 20-yard line. If the ball lands short of the 20, the returning team will get the ball at their 40-yard line. The returning team gets the ball at their 30 if the kickoff goes through the end zone.
Donald Trump certainly isn’t the only person who has come to dislike this rule, just two games into the 2024 NFL season. It should be noted that the new kickoff rules are only set in stone for this year and subject for renewal in 2025.
Donald Trump Has A Unique Relationship With The NFL
Trump has a long and complicated history with the NFL, to say the least. It started in 2014 when he attempted to purchase the Buffalo Bills in 2014, but Terry and Kim Pegula won the bid.
Trump has received political donations from a large number of NFL owners, including Robert Kraft (New England Patriots), Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys), Shad Khan (Jacksonville Jaguars), Stan Kroenke (Los Angeles Rams), Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland Browns) and Stephen Ross (Miami Dolphins).
The 78-year-old has also been heavily critical of the league and commissioner Roger Goodell, calling for the NFL to “fire” players that protest during the national anthem. Trump also canceled the Philadelphia Eagles’ invitation to the White House after winning Super Bowl 52 when several players made it clear that they wouldn’t attend the ceremony.
