Photo by Timothy Dykes
The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk nearly $15,000 this week for a touchdown celebration the league says looked like chugging a beer. Juszczyk isn’t buying it — his nickname is “Juice,” and he says that’s exactly what he was miming.
The fine came in at $14,926, tagged as an “offensive demonstration” tied to his touchdown celebration during San Francisco’s September 20 win over Miami. In the letter explaining the penalty, the NFL described the move as an “imitation of chugging a beer” that “could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
Juszczyk isn’t having it.
He says he’s been doing this same celebration for years, and it’s never had anything to do with alcohol. It’s a nod to his nickname — plain and simple. To prove his point, he posted a string of photos on Instagram showing himself doing the celebration season after season. Fans show up in the slideshow too, including kids in the stands mimicking the move and holding up signs referencing “Juice.”
Ahead of the 2-0 Niners’ matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Juszczyk brought a visual aid to his locker for reporters: a water bottle wrapped in tape that read “NOT BEER.”
“I don’t even drink beer. I maybe drink like five times a year in the offseason. And it’s usually with George [Kittle] because he pressures me,” Juszczyk told reporters.
Kyle Juszczyk was surprised by fine. And he is labeling his drinks now (see above) https://t.co/00MH37eCxK
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 24, 2026
Kittle backed up his teammate’s story — though not without getting a jab in.
https://www.instagram.com/kristinjuszczyk/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=AtMxk17nS5TAaQn-3gmHgiz
The fine adds to what’s already been an expensive start to the 2026 season for Juszczyk. He was also hit with a $20,033 penalty in Week 1 for a helmet-related infraction against the Rams during San Francisco’s opener. Both fines are currently under appeal through the league’s formal review process.
