Super Bowl LIX had all the makings of a spectacle fit for Donald Trump’s approval—star-studded performances, high-stakes action, and historic significance as he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the big game. But while the energy inside the stadium was electrifying, one moment stood out to Trump—not in awe, but in utter frustration.
As he departed New Orleans, the former and current commander-in-chief took to Truth Social to voice his dismay. And what, in Trump’s opinion, completely ruined the Super Bowl? Not a bad call. Not a lopsided score. Not even the halftime show.
It was the kickoff.
Trump Slams NFL’s New Kickoff Rule: ‘Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?’
“The worst part of the Super Bowl, by far, was watching the Kickoff where, as the ball is sailing through the air, the entire field is frozen, stiff,” Trump wrote. “College football does not do it, and won’t! Whose idea was it to ruin the Game?”
This wasn’t just an offhand complaint—it was a full-on crusade. Trump has been raging against the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule since its introduction, and he wasn’t about to let the biggest game of the year slide without taking another swing at it.
Gone are the adrenaline-pumping moments when players would rocket down the field, colliding at full speed in a chaotic and often thrilling kickoff return. Instead, under the new rule, players on the kicking team must remain lined up at the 40-yard line, while the receiving team stands between the 30- and 35-yard lines. No movement is allowed until the ball is touched, completely altering one of the most explosive plays in football.
The NFL insists the change is designed to reduce high-impact collisions and protect players from devastating injuries. But Trump? He’s not buying it.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/113977651409141894
Trump’s Longstanding War on the ‘Boring’ Kickoff
This isn’t the first time Trump has ripped into the league for what he sees as the slow death of real football. Back in September, when the NFL first implemented the new kickoff format, he fumed on Truth Social:
“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!”
And just before the Super Bowl, he doubled down on his criticism:
“If they would only get rid of that really weird looking new Kickoff ‘deal,’ which actually makes football more dangerous, they would be doing everybody, especially the fans, a big favor,” he wrote.
His argument? The new rule not only saps excitement from the game, but actually increases danger by forcing players into awkward, unnatural movements. And for Trump, a self-proclaimed lifelong football fan, the absence of the classic, full-speed kickoff was enough to overshadow an otherwise thrilling championship showdown.
A Battle Trump Won’t Back Down From
If history has shown us anything, it’s that Trump doesn’t let grievances go quietly. And when it comes to the NFL’s kickoff rule, he appears locked in for the long haul. Whether the league ever caves to the criticism or stands firm on its player-safety stance remains to be seen.
But one thing is for sure—Super Bowl LIX may have crowned a champion, but in Trump’s eyes, the real loser was the game itself.
