Kyle Juszczyk fined $14,926 by NFL for celebration

The Incident and the Penalty

The league issued the fine for what officials termed an offensive gesture, pointing to a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1. The infraction occurred with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 35–13 victory over Miami. The official fine notice stated that players are required to maintain behavior that reflects positively on the game and aligns with the league’s fair-play standards, warning that future infractions could lead to stricter discipline, including potential suspension.

Juszczyk has already appealed the fine, pointing out the long-running personal nature of the celebration. Speaking to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter via text, the veteran fullback emphasized the misunderstanding behind the league’s decision. I don’t even drink beer, Juszczyk said.

A Decade-Long Tradition Under Scrutiny

Entering his 10th season with San Francisco, Juszczyk is known by the nickname “Juice” and has performed the exact same celebration for years without prior discipline from league officials. In response to the penalty, Juszczyk took to social media platform X on Thursday morning, sharing a post from Schefter and writing, You can’t make this stuff up…

The sudden enforcement caught players and observers off guard given the frequency of the gesture over his career. The celebration has historically referenced his nickname rather than any alcoholic beverage, making Thursday’s announcement an unexpected development for the veteran blocker.

Support From Around the League

The fine drew immediate bewilderment from around the football community. Former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce voiced strong disagreement with the league’s ruling on X. Juszczyk should threaten to sue for defamation. How dare the NFL make false accusations? There is no way they can prove he was chugging alcohol. He was chugging that ‘juice,’ Kelce wrote.

Garage Beer, a beverage company where Jason Kelce serves as a co-owner, also weighed in on social media to offer financial backing. We absolutely will not stand for this injustice. We would be happy to make sure that beer is on us, the company posted.

What Comes Next

With Juszczyk’s formal appeal now lodged with the league office, a final decision from NFL disciplinarians remains pending.