NFL players swear by smelling salts. So I tried them so you don’t have to
Smelling salts have silently lived on NFL sidelines for years, stashed in pockets, passed between teammates, and used seconds before huge plays. A player crouching over a little bottle and jolting upright, wide awake and ready to explode off the line is usually only seen briefly by fans. The tradition is well-known among athletes, but the experience? That’s normally in locker rooms.
I investigated what makes these small bottles so popular in pro football. I had to test them myself.
What began as curiosity became a crash course in how NFL players use smelling salts, why the league doesn’t like it, and what happens inside your body when the strong ammonia fragrance strikes your nose.
Many NFL players buckle in, take a deep breath, assess the game, and open a small plastic bottle before every drive. A powerful liquid mixture within gives a fast energy boost. Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart believes it gives him an instant boost to “go hit somebody.” He now does that every game day.
He’s not alone. Several league veterans say smelling salts wake them up instantly. Some take a hit before kickoff, while others use them before each possession. Several players say coaches and special teams pass packets during high-intensity times.
Pupils expand, respiration deepens, and the body focuses quickly. That jolt can be attractive for cold-weather athletes, late-season fatiguers, and long-game finishers.
The NFL isn’t celebrating this trend. League medical experts advise that smelling salts might make a player appear more alert than they are, obscuring early concussion symptoms, which are dangerous because they are subtle. Teams can no longer offer salts on the sidelines, but players can.
Doctors call it a sympathetic nervous system explosion, the same natural response humans employed for survival. Ammonia fumes irritate the nose and wake the brain immediately. Heart rate, oxygen intake, and muscle tension increased in anticipation of danger.
NFL players like that. But the risks? The discussion continues.
Players raved about the rush, so I wanted to understand it. To test the experience, I went a high-strength canister to a local football field.
Nothing initially happened. I breathed sharply as I brought the bottle too close.
A scorching feeling went from my nostril and up to my temples instantly. My eyes wet, stomach flipped, and heart sped up. It was like inhaling ice, spice, and toxicity. Everything seemed brighter and louder for a moment, like my body shifted gears without my consent.
It was unpleasant, but I understood why NFL players need it.
The thrill subsided after several minutes, leaving a buzz and a little headache. It tasted raw and strong, unlike an energy drink. I felt more awake, but I also understood why medical professionals counsel younger athletes against using something that can impair physical awareness, especially in a sport with potential long-term damage.
Smelling salts don’t make players stronger, faster, or more skilled, but they do give them a fleeting sense of readiness that many players find useful when every snap counts.
Despite tried them personally, I’m confident that smelling salts may increase alertness, but they’re neither typical or innocuous. They may remain a fixture in NFL culture, but their significance in player safety will be debated. As for me? I left the field awake, slightly startled, and determined I’ll leave the smelling salts to the pros next time.
