GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ revelation that he consumed a plant-based psychedelic substance known as ayahuasca isn’t going to get him in any trouble with the NFL.
According to league spokesman Brian McCarthy, any trace of the substance in his system would not trigger a positive result under the substance abuse or performance-enhancing drug policies.
The league and the players’ union collectively bargained a drug policy that prohibits a long list of substances, but since ayahuasca isn’t on it, there’s no reason why Rodgers would be in violation of either policy.
Rodgers revealed last week that he had taken the substance, but the league previously had not commented on whether it was prohibited by NFL rules.
It’s likely Rodgers knew that would be the case given he was once the team’s union representative and was part of the collective bargaining process when the deal was extended. Given what is at stake if the substance was illegal — a possible suspension and entrance into the substance abuse program — it’s likely he made sure he wasn’t violating any rules.
On the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, Rodgers said he consumed ayahuasca during a trip to Peru in the offseason. The substance, which contains the active chemical dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is associated with religious practices and rituals in South America and has hallucinogenic properties.
Rodgers credited the substance with helping him with his mental health and winning his third and fourth MVP awards in 2020 and 2021.
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