Dave Toub asserts Chiefs might ‘bench’ Harrison Butker for kickoffs due to a specific reason amid his controversial speech saga

Kansas City Chiefs have pondered taking kicker Harrison Butker off from the Kickoff duties in the upcoming season. Special Teams Co-ordinator David Toub discussed the idea with the other coaches and he seems it would be a positive move after the monumental rule change for the kickoff.

Toub spoke with the reporters on Thursday after the Chiefs’ practice. He revealed watching batches of XFL games that have come in handy for research.

The new kickoff rules, per Yahoo Sports Jori Epstein, implemented in March, dictate that any ball kicked into the ‘landing zone’ from the goal line to the 20-yard line, must be returned. It basically nullifies ‘no-fair catches.’ Balls that bounce from the landing zone and end up in the goal have to be returned or downed for a touchback.

No coach would want their star kicker, in the Chiefs’ case, Harrison Butker, to use his body while stopping the returner. By doing so, he would increase the risk of picking up an injury because, unlike other players, kickers don’t wear adequate gear for a collision.