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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle crashed his teammate Fred Warner’s interview on Tuesday to issue a complaint he has with the league.
The league informed all teams of a smelling salt ban before and during all NFL games, and the do-it-all tight end from the Bay area is not happy.
“I honestly got right up here to send out a complaint,” Kittle said on the NFL Network. “Our team got a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packages were made illegal in the NFL, and I’ve been confused all day.”
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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, #85, looks at in the first half against Arizona Cardinals at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 5, 2025. (Matt Kartozian-Pre-Published Pictures)
Kittle said he is a regular user of smelling salts, giving him a boost of energy before offensive drives.
“I already miss them,” he added.
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The memo provided by ESPN says that teams are prohibited from “delivering or delivering ammonia in any form” that includes ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup or any kind of smelling salt.
This will be useful throughout games, including pregame activities and the break in and out of the dressing room as well as on the sidelines.
“In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia in -cube (AIS), as well as to consumers on the purchase and use of AIS, in terms of the lack of evidence that supports the safety or effectiveness of AIS marketed to improve mental attention or increase energy,” the memo read per year. Espn. “The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIS also has the potential to mask certain neurological signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, #85, trains with his teammates during an OTA at Levi’s Stadium on June 10, 2025. (D. Ross Cameron-Preferred Pictures)
“As a result, the NFL head, the neck committee recommended to prohibit the use of AIS for any purpose during NFL play.”
Kittle said jokingly, “I was considering retirement,” after reading the memo on Tuesday. However, he is probably not the only one who looks at this new directive in a bad light.
“We’ve got to find out an intermediary here, guys. Someone helps me. Someone comes with a good idea,” he said. “That was all I had to get out there. Get it off my chest.”
The tight end George Kittle, #85 of San Francisco 49ers, warms up before an NFL football match against Los Angeles Rams at Levis Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Kittle enters his ninth year in the NFL, all with the 49s, and he comes another season with over 1,000 meters receiving. He had 78 receptions for 1,106 yards with eight touchdowns.
The 31-year-old is one of the best in his position in the league, but he will have to find his Gameday Energy boost elsewhere in 2025 and over.
