Patriots Accuse Steelers Of Supplying Smelling Salts To $20M Superstar To Hide Concussion Symptoms

Foxborough, MA – Sep 19, 2025 — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21–14 win over the New England Patriots has been overshadowed by fresh controversy. Patriots officials publicly accused the Steelers of providing smelling salts to Aaron Rodgers — their $20 million-per-year superstar quarterback — to mask potential concussion symptoms during the game.

A viral video circulating online shows Rodgers on the sideline cracking open a small vial, taking a sharp inhale, and then returning to the huddle for a pivotal third-down play. According to the Patriots, this act raises suspicions that Pittsburgh staff supplied him the salts to conceal lingering effects from a head impact earlier in the game.

“The rule is clear — no team can provide smelling salts to players,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said postgame. “When it’s tied to possible concussion symptoms, the matter is even more serious. Player safety and the integrity of the game cannot be compromised.”

Rodgers has a well-documented history of head injuries dating back to his years with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets:

• 2010 — Grade 1 concussion, forced to leave mid-game.
• 2018 — Further concussion concerns, though not formally diagnosed.

While Rodgers has not been officially diagnosed with a concussion since joining the Steelers, his history heightens concerns about long-term health risks such as CTE.

The NFL has yet to issue a formal statement, but if the allegations are substantiated, the Steelers could face substantial fines and disciplinary measures against staff. The game’s outcome itself would not be overturned.

Rodgers declined to directly address the accusations. “I’m here to compete for the Steelers and win football games. That’s my only focus,” he told reporters.

This could mark the first high-profile case under the NFL’s 2025 smelling salts ban — one further complicated by Rodgers’ medical history, raising uncomfortable questions about how far teams are willing to go in pursuit of victory.