The National Football League (NFL) has announced a significant policy change regarding the use of smelling salts during games, effective for the 2025 season. While the league has prohibited teams from providing or supplying ammonia-based smelling salts and related inhalants at NFL events, players themselves will still be allowed to bring and use their own personal smelling salts on the sidelines. This nuanced ban came after scrutiny surrounding safety concerns and potential risks associated with these substances.
The announcement was made public through a memo sent to all 32 NFL clubs in early August 2025. The memo specifies that “ammonia,” encompassing ammonia capsules, inhalers, smelling salts in any form, and even ammonia in cups, may no longer be distributed or administered by any team personnel. This prohibition applies universally across all games, including pregame activities, halftime, sidelines, and locker rooms—and it extends to all club staff such as physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and others.
The decision was strongly influenced by a 2024 safety alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which raised concerns about the unproven safety and efficacy of ammonia inhalants marketed to boost alertness and energy. The FDA noted a lack of solid evidence supporting the beneficial claims of these products and highlighted possible adverse side effects including shortness of breath, seizures, migraines, vomiting, diarrhea, and fainting. Importantly for football, the inhalants could mask neurological signs and symptoms such as potential indicators of concussion, posing a risk in a sport with high concussion awareness.
The NFL’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended banning the use of ammonia inhalants for any purpose during games to safeguard player health and ensure concussion signs are not obscured. NFL Commissioner, while not directly quoted on the record, underscored the league’s commitment to player safety and scientific guidance in rulemaking.
Despite the club-level ban, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) clarified in a follow-up communication to players that the ban restricts only the teams from supplying or providing smelling salts. Players are still permitted to use their own smelling salts during games, provided they bring these themselves. This “bring your own” policy was confirmed after initial confusion sparked concern among players and fans alike.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, a well-known advocate and frequent user of smelling salts during games, voiced his distress publicly on NFL Network shortly after the ban was announced. Kittle expressed that the ban had him “distraught” and joked about considering retirement due to losing what he described as an essential part of his in-game routine. “I rely on smelling salts during every drive,” Kittle said, emphasizing their personal significance for focus and energy on the field.
Experts and observers see the ban as part of the NFL’s ongoing effort to address health and safety risks associated with both acute injuries and chronic neurological conditions. By removing team dispensed ammonia inhalants, the league aims to reduce potential masking of concussion symptoms and improve the accuracy of injury diagnoses.
The real-life impact of this policy will affect sideline routines for players and team medical staff alike. Trainers and coaches must now adapt their protocols to exclude supplying smelling salts, while players who favor these stimulants must manage their own supplies.
Looking ahead, the league may assess the effects of this regulation over the course of the 2025 season and beyond. Discussions continue around broader safety innovations and potential further restrictions on substances and practices that could interfere with concussion protocols. The NFL’s move underscores a larger focus on player health that also involves equipment, medical testing, and return-to-play guidelines.
In summary, the NFL’s 2025 policy banning teams from providing smelling salts alters how these inhalants are accessed and used during games. Responding to FDA safety concerns and concussion masking risks, the league restricts team distribution but allows player possession. This carefully calibrated approach balances safety priorities with respecting player autonomy. As the season unfolds, the NFL community will watch closely how this change influences player performance, health management, and the ongoing evolution of football safety standards.
