Steelers Now
President Donald Trump criticized the new NFL kickoff rule that was central to a massive error by Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson on Sunday.
Johnson’s misplay happened in the fourth quarter of what became a 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks for the Steelers on Sunday.
Johnson allowed a kickoff from Seattle kicker Josh Myers to bounce in play, go over his head and land in the back of the end zone. He did not even attempt to down the ball, instead letting in lay in the back of the end zone until running back George Holani fell on it for the easy score.
That play has resulted in a live ball for years — then-Steelers rookie running back Barry Foster made a similar misplay in 1990 — and has been a live ball in high school and college football for years now.
“The NFL has to get rid of that ridiculous looking new Kickoff Rule,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, the social media network owned by Trump. “How can they make such a big and sweeping change so easily and quickly. It’s at least as dangerous as the ‘normal’ kickoff, and looks like hell. The ball is moving, and the players are not, the exact opposite of what football is all about. ‘Sissy’ football is bad for America, and bad for the NFL! Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas?”
The NFL changed its kickoffs before the 2024 season, moving the coverage units closer to the blockers and forcing both sets of players to get a standing, instead of a running start.
The new rule didn’t change anything about the kickoff to Johnson on Sunday — that always would have been a live ball, but the rookie seemed to be confused about the new rules.
Trump attended a game with the new rule in effect in Pittsburgh in 2024, when he was campaigning for his second term of the presidency.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Johnson will not be returning any more kicks in the short term, but will be given a chance to win his job back.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: President Trump Rips NFL Rule Central to Steelers Kickoff Blunder
