No, that wasn’t a bottle of vodka on the Chiefs sideline during Sunday’s game
You may recall the chatter during the preseason about the use of smelling salts on the sideline of NFL games.
Ultimately, the league said players could have smelling salts with them as long as they don’t come from the teams.
Some viewers on Sunday were wondering if the Chiefs had something a little stronger on the sideline. CBS Sports’ cameras briefly showed the Chiefs’ Chris Jones with a bottle in his hand, and some fans speculated it was alcohol. It wasn’t, which I’ll get into shortly, but clips of the moment were shared by multiple big social-media accounts.
It’s more than likely a bottle of water, perhaps with electrolytes, carbonation or a nutritional supplement. Heck, maybe it was pickle juice. Remember when Tyreek Hill was drinking pickle juice during a 2020 Chiefs game?
But alcohol? No way.
But multiple X accounts, which have hundreds of thousands of followers, tried to portray it as vodka.
In 2022, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all teams about alcohol after Washington players were disciplined for drinking on a team flight, ESPN reported at the time.
“In light of recent events, clubs are reminded that League policy prohibits alcoholic beverages, including beer, in the locker rooms, practice or office facilities, or while traveling on team buses or planes at any time during the preseason, regular season, or postseason,” the memo said, per ESPN. “This applies to all players, coaches, club personnel, and guests traveling with your team.”
If that’s the case, then you know without a doubt, there would be no alcohol on the sidelines at a Chiefs game, regardless of the shape of the bottle.
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM.
