San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

49ers' George Kittle jokes he considered retiring over new NFL ban

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 1:00 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle isn't a happy camper right now, and he wants the league to be aware of that.

The two-time All-Pro crashed teammate Fred Warner's interview at training camp to express his displeasure about the league's new ban on the use of ammonia and smelling salts.

"I honestly just came up here to air a grievance," Kittle said. "Our team got a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL, and I've been distraught all day."

The 31-year-old continued his playful rant by claiming that he almost walked away from the game.

"I considered retirement," Kittle joked. "We have got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out. Somebody come up with a good idea. That's all I had to get out there. Get that off my chest."

George Kittle crashed the NFL Network set to drop the news that the league banned smelling salts and ammonia packets today — and he admits he uses them every single drive. pic.twitter.com/1orx0wzhOa
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 5, 2025

For years, football and hockey players have used smelling salts, traditionally used for fainting victims, as a bit of an energy boost. Per the NFLPA, that might not be a good idea.

"The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurological signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during NFL play," the memo says, per ESPN.

Kittle hauled in 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.

With the 49ers' decimated offense, Kittle must find another way to get going, or quarterback Brock Purdy could be in a lot of trouble this season.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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