Trump blasts NFL's kickoff rule as dangerous and ridiculous

In the United States, President Donald Trump has expressed strong opposition to the NFL's new dynamic kickoff rule, implemented before the start of the 2024 season. He claimed that this change contradicts the essence of football and label the new rule as 'ridiculous-looking.' The dynamic kickoff rule was designed to improve player safety by altering the way kickoffs are executed by creating a landing zone and changing player positioning. Trump's criticism echoes his sentiments from the previous season, where he deemed this variation to be potentially as hazardous as traditional kickoffs. Since the kickoff has historically been noted for its high concussion rates, the NFL aimed to address this concern with the new rule, which has reportedly resulted in a significant reduction in concussion rates by 43% from 2021 to 2023. Interestingly, while the NFL has seen a decline in injuries, up to 75.6% of kickoffs were returned in the opening week of the season, marking one of the highest return rates observed in years. However, some players remain confused by the new rule, leading to gameplay errors, such as a notable blunder from Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson, emphasizing a learning curve associated with adjustments to the new system. Despite the mixed reception, the NFL anticipates that this rule change will remain permanent, as they continue to monitor its impact on player safety and the overall excitement of the game.