The San Francisco 49ers can be counted among those who aren't fond of a memo the league sent out this week banning smelling salts and ammonia inhalants, which are commonly used on the sideline or in weight rooms by power lifters. For athletes, the most common use is to create a hyper sense of awareness and ability to stay locked in.
San Francisco fans will find it no surprise that tight-end George Kittle is among those who strongly oppose the league's new ban. The pass-catcher was so upset by the news, he crashed a Fred Warner interview to state his case.
Here was #49ers TE George Kittle stating his case for a reconsideration of the banning of smelling salts and ammonia inhalants today. https://t.co/p6WRZArY9L pic.twitter.com/MNZNNjdVT3
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 5, 2025
George Kittle Makes His Case Against New NFL Ban
Kittle's full comments can be heard above, with the tight end making it clear his entire goal of crashing the interview was to "air a grievance." The star playmaker continued that he had been "distraught" all day, with Fred Warner throwing in that Kittle had said he wasn't practicing due to the harsh news.
While the emotion did appear legitimate, it was in typical Kittle style with a bit of flair and needed drama. With that said, the league isn't going to reconsider a position that it has already taken an incredibly strong stance on.
Kittle was so upset by the news that he mentioned that he "considered retirement" when stating his case. From the tone and timing of the statement, it was a clear joke meant to drive home the level of frustration at the new ruling. It is easy to understand players' frustrations with feeling controlled by a league that is consistently shifting its rules and what is allowed to help players be at their best.
Kittle didn't spare any emotion or frustration, making this clear when attempting to get his message across.
The league is focused on protecting itself and not putting the game at risk. Inhalants have the ability to mask injuries and help players continue to perform when the safe decision is to sit down and focus on health. While this might not be a popular decision among fans or players, the league is clearly in the right when it comes to banning future use of inhalants.
If there wasn't some level of risk, the league would have no reason to pay attention to the practice. The fact that it has become a big enough concern to earn the league-wide memo is an answer in itself. While Kittle's frustration is understandable, the league's responsibility to player safety remains paramount in a league that continues to shift its focus.