George Kittle Unhappy After NFL Bans Smelling Salts and Ammonia

George Kittle along with many other athletes in the NFL regularly used smelling salts or ammonia inhalants during games.

George Kittle Unhappy After NFL Bans Smelling Salts and Ammonia

49ers star George Kittle unhappy with NFL's ban on smelling salts (Image via Imago)

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George Kittle is about to enter his ninth season in the NFL. He and the San Francisco 49ers have just one goal: to return to being one of the top teams in the league, while also attempting to win a Super Bowl after two failed attempts.

The 31-year-old has been consistently one of their best players, except for the 2020 season, when injuries derailed his personal goals. That consistency saw him land another contract extension, which made him the highest-paid tight end.

All of that screams the confidence the 49ers have in their veteran leader. George Kittle‘s mix of his passion for the game and his jovial nature has made him a hit among fans as well as his teammates.

This offseason has been unusual for the franchise, as there has not been the usual drama that surrounds the camp. That lack of distractions should help them focus on the task at hand. That is, until their star tight end did not appreciate the league’s latest decision.

I honestly came up here just to air a grievance. Our team had a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL. I’ve been distraught all day. I considered retirement. We’ve got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. I miss those already.

George Kittle said on the NFL Network

The Iowa Hawkeyes alum said it in his usual joking manner. But to do that, he crashed teammate Fred Warner‘s interview with the NFL Network. For someone who has been using smelling salts regularly, this came as a setback.

George Kittle and his peers cannot use smelling salts anymore

Smelling salts are widely used in many sports leagues. It has become a go-to stimulant for players who want to give their senses a jolt. However, the FDA had shared data with the NFL on what those stimulants do, and that led the league to issue a league-wide memo.

The FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AI), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety of efficacy of AIs marked for improving mental alertness or boosting energy.

Excerpt from the Memo the NFL sent out to teams

Based on this information, the league has now banned teams from supplying ammonia inhalers or smelling salts in any form. This ban is applicable throughout game days, which effectively should bring an end to those stimulants.

As per George Kittle’s words, he hoped for there to be a middle ground where athletes could still use smelling salts in some fashion. However, the league took this decision based on a concern that it masks concussions.

NFL hoping to avoid concussion risks by banning smelling salts

Last season, there was an incident when Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen‘s head hit the turf. He was taken off the field, but was back on the next play. Video footage later revealed that he sniffed smelling salts, which helped him return that quickly.

Josh Allen came to play after hitting his head on the turf
Josh Allen came to play after hitting his head on the turf (Image via Ari Meirov/X)

Fans asked if it was ethical, considering such an impact to the head would usually result in a check-up with the NFL’s concussion protocol team. But it did not happen, and fans believe those smelling salts helped Allen avoid that.

It is not as if the league specifically looked into that incident, but their statement sheds light on one of the reasons why ammonia inhalants or smelling salts are being banned.

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.

The memo said

If anything, the league is doing its part in trying to minimize concussion-related diseases, most notably CTE. It is unknown if last week’s CTE-driven horror played any hand in this decision.

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