49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk fined $14,926 for beer-chug celebration vs. Dolphins

NFL fines Juszczyk for touchdown celebration against Miami

The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk $14,926 for "engaging in an offensive demonstration" during the 49ers' 35-13 home win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The league's fine letter said Juszczyk's "imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste," and Juszczyk has already filed an appeal.

'Juice' nickname at the center of the dispute

Juszczyk told ESPN he always celebrates touchdowns and first downs by pretending to chug a drink as an homage to his longtime nickname "Juice," adding, "And I don't even drink beer!" Former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt publicly backed that interpretation on social media, writing that for a player nicknamed Juice, "could it not be 'reasonably construed' that he is drinking… Juice?" The celebration followed Juszczyk's third-quarter touchdown catch, one of two receptions for 27 yards in the game, and the 49ers improved to 2-0 on the season.

Second fine of the young season for Juszczyk

The beer-chug penalty follows a separate $20,033 fine Juszczyk received during San Francisco's Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia for "impermissible use of the helmet" while lead-blocking for Christian McCaffrey, as reported by Mike Garafolo. A 10-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the league's few true fullbacks, Juszczyk is in his 10th NFL season, all spent with the 49ers since 2017.

Next game and appeal timeline

The 49ers will look to stay unbeaten when they host the Arizona Cardinals, who enter at 1-1, in an NFC West matchup on Sunday. Juszczyk's appeal of the $14,926 fine remains pending, with no public decision date from the league announced in the available reporting.