For years, NFL players – and athletes in other sports – routinely relied on smelling salts or ammonia capsules to jolt themselves awake on the sidelines. It was common to see players crack open a capsule before a drive, using the sharp inhalation to sharpen focus and ignite a burst of energy ahead of a key snap.
That tradition effectively ends in 2025. The NFL announced a league-wide prohibition on ammonia-based products, citing health concerns and the potential to mask concussion symptoms. The ban applies to capsules, inhalers, cups, or any form of smelling salts and extends throughout games, including pregame warmups, halftime, and locker-room access.
The league’s statement cited findings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy. The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL.
In light of this information, effective for the 2025 NFL season, clubs are prohibited from providing or supplying ammonia in any form at NFL games. For clarity, ‘ammonia’ refers to ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of ‘smelling salts.’ This prohibition applies to all club personnel (including but not limited to team physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and coaches or other personnel). The prohibition applies through the entirety of all NFL games, including during all pregame activities, and halftime, and applies on the sideline and in stadium locker rooms.
The decision sparked strong reactions from players accustomed to using the practice. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, speaking during an NFL Network segment, vented his frustration:
Our team had a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL, and I’ve been distraught all day… I considered retirement. We have got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out. Somebody come up with a good idea. That’s all I had to get out there. Get that off my chest.
Kittle’s reaction underscores how ingrained the practice is in football culture. Former players, including Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, have admitted to using smelling salts to return to play after big hits:
When I played for the Steelers and I got my bell rung, I’d take smelling salts and go right back out there. All of us did that.
While teams can no longer provide ammonia products, the ban does not extend to personal use away from stadium facilities. As a result, many expect players will continue bringing their own supply, meaning the sight of capsules on the sidelines may not disappear entirely this season.
Read the full article here
