The NFL is telling its players to BYOSS (Bring Your Own Smelling Salt).
In a memo sent out by the NFL Players Association, it was clarified that the NFL’s new policy doesn’t prevent players from using smelling salts and ammonia capsules if they have their own supply.
Kalyn Kahler of ESPN obtained a message the players association sent out. The ban only applies to teams providing it to players.
The news of the ban was broken by San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle during an appearance on NFL Network when he stated his case for why it should be allowed.
Kittle responded to Wednesday’s news with a nod of approval in a post on X/Twitter:
In the original memo from the NFL sent out to all 32 teams on Tuesday, the league’s Head, Neck, and Spine Committee cited a 2024 warning from the Food and Drug Administration about the “potential negative effects” from ammonia inhalants, including masking “some potential signs of concussion” as its reasonKit for recommending bannding the use of AIs “for any purpose” during games.
The league agreed with the recommendation, putting the ban into effect for the 2025 season.
Smelling salts are typically used to treat or prevent fainting, but it can also be used as an energy boost and to enhance focus. It’s why a lot of NFL players and other athletes like to use it before and during games.
