49ers’ Juszczyk fined for ‘offensive demonstration’ by NFL for ‘Juice’ celebration
by Liam Griffin · The Washington TimesSan Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is almost $15,000 poorer this week. The NFL fined him $14,926 for a chugging-related celebration during Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins.
The 10-time Pro Bowler has performed the same display throughout his career on first downs and touchdowns. It features Juszczyk chugging an imagined beverage, a reference to his “Juice” nickname.
But the NFL deemed that the miming represented beer, not juice.
“Your imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,” the NFL said in its fine letter, according to ESPN.
Current and former players took to social media to voice their dismay with the league’s punishment.
“Can’t make this stuff up,” Juszczyk wrote on X.
“Juszczyk should threaten to countersue for defamation,” Jason Kelce, the center-turned-analyst, wrote. “How dare the NFL allege false accusations. No way they can prove he was chugging alcohol. He was chugging that ‘juice. How dare they tarnish the legacy of the great American fullback.’”
Kelce’s beer company, Garage Beers, offered to pay the fine.
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The NFL’s analysis offended at least one of Juszczyk’s teammates, who noted that the two-time All-Pro isn’t a beer drinker.
“Can confirm he doesn’t really drink beer but is a good guy,” 49ers tight end George Kittle wrote.
NFL officials noted before last season that the league would crack down on celebrations deemed violent or offensive.
“There’s no place in the game to have violent gestures. That’s not the game of football,” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said in 2025. “We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles.”
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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Liam Griffin
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