Cardinals Accuse 49ers of Supplying Smelling Salts to $7M Star During Home Win

Sep 22, 2025 — Santa Clara, CA — The San Francisco 49ers’ narrow 16–15 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night has been clouded by controversy after the Cardinals accused the Niners of supplying smelling salts to their $7 million star, quarterback Mac Jones, just minutes before kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.

A video clip that circulated widely on social media appeared to show Jones crouching near the sideline, cracking open a small vial, and taking a sharp inhale before trotting back toward the huddle. Cardinals officials allege the stimulant was not brought by the player himself but handed to him by 49ers staff — a direct violation of the NFL’s new 2025 rule banning teams from distributing smelling salts.

“The policy is crystal clear — no team is allowed to provide smelling salts to players under any circumstances,” a Cardinals spokesperson said Monday. “If San Francisco gave Jones that edge right before the opening whistle, it compromises fair play. We expect the NFL to investigate fully.”

The 49ers have not yet released an official comment. Jones, who threw for 186 yards and led a late scoring drive that sealed the one-point win, downplayed the speculation when asked postgame.

“I just keep my focus on leading the offense,” Jones told reporters. “My job is to execute and give this team the best chance to win — nothing else matters.”

The NFL confirmed it has opened a review into the matter. While smelling salts remain legal for personal use, teams are strictly prohibited from supplying them to players during games.

Any punishment would likely be limited to fines or warnings rather than altering the outcome of the contest. Still, the incident has cast new attention on a long-standing sideline ritual that, until now, rarely attracted league-level scrutiny.