49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk wins appeal of NFL fine over ‘Juice’ celebration
In short
The NFL has rescinded the fine it issued to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a celebration the league had said looked like chugging a beer. An appeals officer ruled in his favor after Juszczyk argued he was imitating drinking juice, tied to his nickname “Juice.” AP and CNN reported the initial fine at $29,852 for two infractions, while Fox News reported a $14,926 fine on Sept. 24.
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The NFL has rescinded the fine it imposed on San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk over a celebration the league had said looked like chugging a beer. An appeals officer ruled in his favor, the league said Wednesday, and ESPN first reported the fine had been rescinded on appeal. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The outlets differ on the size of the original penalty. AP and CNN reported Juszczyk was initially fined $29,852 for two infractions of the league’s sportsmanship rules. Fox News reported a $14,926 fine imposed on Sept. 24. The documents do not reconcile the two figures. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The fine stemmed from two catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, when Juszczyk did a celebration he has used for years while fans at Levi’s Stadium chanted “Juice!” for his nickname. The NFL initially ruled that the “imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,” and said it would crack down on celebrations this season. [ 3 , 5 ]
Juszczyk argued in the appeal that he was imitating drinking juice. “I don’t know how else to say it. I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” he said on Sept. 24, according to AP and CNN. “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. So I was surprised as anybody when I got a fine this week.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Fox News reported that the appeal was heard in a Zoom meeting with the league on Tuesday, and that Juszczyk stated during it that the fine was hypocritical given the amount of Bud Light sponsorships surrounding the NFL. Fox News also reported the hearing officer accepted that his celebration was simulating drinking a juice box. The other documents do not mention those points. [ 2 ]
CNN reported that Juszczyk has been the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship for the past six seasons, and that his only previous fines were for illegal use of the helmet and low blocks. He is in his 14th NFL season and 10th with San Francisco, has made the Pro Bowl 10 times, and was an All-Pro in 2023 and 2025, according to CNN. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The case drew wide attention because the NFL said this season it would crack down on celebrations, and the league reversed itself after an appeal. It also put a spotlight on how the league enforces its sportsmanship rules against a player known for a long-running, fan-driven celebration. The documents do not indicate any wider rule change beyond this appeal.
Key facts
- San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk won his appeal over NFL fines for a celebration the league said looked like he was chugging a beer, and the league said an appeals officer ruled in his favor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- ESPN first reported that the fine had been rescinded on appeal, according to AP and CNN. [ 3 , 5 ]
- The NFL initially ruled that the “imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The celebration followed two catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, with fans at Levi’s Stadium chanting “Juice!” for his nickname. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Juszczyk said he was imitating drinking juice, not beer, pointing to his nickname and the “Juice” inscription on his pads. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- CNN reported Juszczyk has been the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship for the past six seasons, is in his 14th NFL season and 10th with San Francisco, and has made 10 Pro Bowls. [ 5 ]
- AP and CNN reported the initial fine at $29,852 for two infractions, while Fox News reported a $14,926 fine imposed on Sept. 24. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kyle Juszczyk won his appeal and the NFL rescinded the fine over his celebration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The NFL had initially ruled the celebration an “offensive demonstration” that could be “construed as being in poor taste.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Juszczyk said the celebration imitated drinking juice in reference to his nickname “Juice.” [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The celebration came after catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins. [ 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The size of the original fine: AP and CNN reported $29,852 for two infractions, while Fox News reported $14,926 imposed on Sept. 24. The outlets give different amounts and counts, and the documents do not reconcile the discrepancy.
- Juszczyk’s argument during the appeal that the fine was hypocritical given the NFL’s Bud Light sponsorships, and Fox News’ account that the hearing officer accepted a “juice box” simulation. Reported only by Fox News; the other documents do not mention it.
- The identity of the appeals officer and the full wording of the ruling. Not stated in any document; the league is cited only as saying an appeals officer ruled in his favor.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- News of the fine emerges; Juszczyk says he was not drinking beer in his celebration. Fox News says the $14,926 fine was imposed that day; AP and CNN put the fine at $29,852. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Reuters reports that the NFL rescinds the fine over the “beer chugging” celebration. [ 1 ]
- Fox News reports Juszczyk successfully appealed the fine by invoking his “Juice” nickname. [ 2 ]
- AP reports the appeals officer ruled in Juszczyk’s favor and that the league announced it Wednesday. [ 3 ]
- AP publishes a Spanish-language version of the report. [ 4 ]
- CNN reports the appeal outcome and adds background on Juszczyk’s career and previous fines. [ 5 ]