Smelling salts in the NFL are (or recently were) mainly used as a quick “wake‑up jolt” to feel more alert and amped up before or during games, not as a true medical treatment.

What smelling salts actually are

Smelling salts are usually ammonia-based compounds packaged in small capsules, packets, or bottles.

When you crack or open them and sniff, the sharp ammonia irritates the lining of your nose and lungs, which triggers a fast, deep inhalation and a brief spike in alertness.

Think of it like an extremely harsh, chemical “shock” to your senses that forces a big breath and makes you feel suddenly more awake.

How NFL players use them

For years, smelling salts were a sideline ritual across the league, especially among linemen and high‑energy defensive players.

Common uses included:

  • Before kickoff to feel more “locked in” or hyped up.
  • Between series, especially after long drives, to fight fatigue and sharpen focus.
  • In the locker room pregame as part of a mental and physical pump‑up routine.

Many players treated them as part of the game‑day culture rather than a scientifically proven performance enhancer. One estimate in the mid‑2000s suggested a very high percentage of players were using them regularly.

Not for concussion “revival” (and why that matters)

Historically, smelling salts in sports had a reputation for being used to “wake up” someone who looked dazed.

Modern sports medicine strongly pushes against this idea:

  • There is no good evidence that smelling salts safely restore consciousness or brain function.
  • They can mask or confuse symptoms of a concussion by briefly making a player feel sharper or more alert, even if there is a brain injury.

This masking effect is one of the big reasons football and medical authorities have turned against their use during games.

Safety concerns and recent rule changes

In 2024, the U.S. FDA warned manufacturers and consumers about ammonia inhalants, saying there was no solid evidence they are safe or effective for boosting alertness and highlighting potential adverse effects.

Key concerns:

  • Irritation of the nose, mouth, and airways.
  • Potential toxicity at high exposure levels.
  • Risk of masking neurological signs like concussion symptoms.

In response, the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting their use during play, and the league told clubs they could not provide or supply smelling salts or other ammonia inhalants on the sideline, in locker rooms, or during pregame/halftime.

Soon after, it was clarified that:

  • Teams and staff cannot provide smelling salts.
  • Players themselves are not outright banned from using them if they obtain them independently, though the overall direction is clearly moving away from team‑endorsed use.

Some players, like 49ers tight end George Kittle, publicly complained about the restriction because they had relied on smelling salts as part of their routine every drive or every game day.

Why they’re still a talking point

The topic stays “trending” around the NFL because it sits at the intersection of:

  • Player culture: many athletes see smelling salts as a harmless, old‑school hype tool.
  • Modern safety standards: doctors and the league are trying to tighten concussion protocols and remove anything that could hide symptoms.
  • New rules: the recent shift where clubs can no longer provide them creates confusion and debate about how far the league should go in regulating personal performance rituals.

On fan forums, you’ll often see two viewpoints:

  • “Let them use what they want, it’s just a mental boost.”
  • “If it might hide concussions, it’s not worth it, especially with what we now know about brain injuries.”

Quick recap (TL;DR)

  • Smelling salts are ammonia-based inhalants that briefly jolt your breathing and make you feel more alert.
  • NFL players have used them mainly to feel hyped, focused, and awake before and during games, not as a real medical treatment.
  • Medical experts worry they can irritate airways, have other side effects, and mask concussion symptoms.
  • The NFL now bars teams and staff from supplying them, though players can still use them on their own, keeping the debate alive around safety versus player choice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.