NFL Fines 49ers Player, Says He Pretended to Chug Beer While Celebrating Catch

Amid a crackdown on player celebrations, the NFL fined 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk $14,926, saying it determined he was mimicking a beer chug when he performed his signature move playing off his “Juice” nickname, after a catch Sunday.

Juszczyk was doing his longtime “Juice” celebration after a catch Sunday against the Miami Dolphins when, with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, he pretended to take a drink. As ESPN reports, the NFL rejected Juszczyk’s argument that he was drinking juice and instead determined that he was imitating a beer chug, fining him $14,926.

The 49ers fullback, who’s in his 10th season with the 49ers and his 14th with the NFL, has reportedly been doing the celebration for years in response to fans chanting “Juice” after his catches or other big plays, and he said Thursday that he was surprised the league had a problem with it this time.

“I don't know how else to say it. I wasn't drinking beer in my celebration,” Juszczyk said during a press conference, per ESPN. “I think you guys all know my nickname is Juice. I have ‘Juice’ on my pads. The stadium yells ‘Juice’ when I catch the ball. When I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice, and it's been that way for years.”

The NFL said Juszczyk violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits “offensive demonstrations.” The fine notice said his imitation of chugging a beer could be considered in poor taste and warned that additional violations could result in escalating discipline, including a suspension.

According to ESPN, Juszczyk has appealed the penalty, with the hearing scheduled for Tuesday along with his appeal of a separate $20,033 fine from Week 1 for unnecessary roughness and leading with his helmet against the Los Angeles Rams. 

The Chronicle reports that Kittle, one of Juszczyk’s closest friends, also piled on, joking that Juszczyk, who's very health conscious, barely drinks beer. Kittle later posted a photo of Juszczyk holding a Bud Light — the NFL's official beer sponsor, and tagged the NFL in the comments, writing, “this guy is a menace.” Kittle then reportedly joked that the team had voted to stop calling Juszczyk “Juice” and make his new nickname “Beer.”

ESPN reports that the NFL has been cracking down on player celebrations this season, and Juszczyk said he was told several other players were fined this week. Indianapolis Colts guard Matt Goncalves was reportedly fined $8,847 for pretending to chug a beer after receiving the football following a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are also facing fines over a celebration they introduced this season. The two reportedly perform a gesture inspired by “The People's Elbow,” popularized by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, which Chase said was intended as a new way to signal a first down.

Chase said players should work with the NFL Players Association to challenge the fines and said the league was “just stopping the fun.”

Juszczyk has been the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship for the past six seasons, per ESPN. He has made 10 Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2025.

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