NFL Players Will Still Be Able to Use Smelling Salts
Good news for NFL players. Despite the confusion generated by a league memorandum sent to teams on Tuesday, players will still be able to use smelling salts during games this season, as long as they are the ones who provide them. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) sent a message to the players on Wednesday night, stating that they sought clarification on the league’s ammonia ban. The confirmation received stipulates that the restriction only applies to clubs that supply ammonia to the players.The original memorandum, sent on Tuesday to the 32 NFL teams, stated that clubs were prohibited from providing ammonia in any form during the 2025 season games. This prohibition recommendation was made by the NFL’s head, neck, and spine committee, due to a warning issued by the FDA in 2024 about the negative effects of ammonia inhalants, including “the possibility of masking certain neurological signs and symptoms, including some possible signs of concussion”. The memorandum specified that the ban applied to all club personnel, including team doctors, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, and other staff, during all match activities, including pre-match, halftime, and in the stadium locker room. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David publicly expressed their concern interpreting the memorandum as a total ban on the use of smelling salts during games. On Wednesday, the players’ union requested clarification from the league on whether the memorandum’s ban extended to players providing their own smelling salts for games.We were not notified of this change in club policy before the memorandum was sent.
NFLPA Message
