49ers' Juszczyk fined for 'offensive' act of pretending to chug beer
Nick WagonerSep 24, 2026, 01:05 PM ET
- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk $14,926 on Thursday for "engaging in offensive demonstrations."
According to the league, Juszczyk violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, when he did an "imitation of chugging a beer" with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter of the Niners' win against the Miami Dolphins.
The fine notice went on to say that "players are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the game and is consistent with NFL standards of sportsmanship." It added that further offenses will result in an escalation of disciplinary action, up to and including suspension.
Juszczyk has already appealed the fine, he told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Juszczyk, who goes by the nickname "Juice," has done the celebration for years and has said that he's drinking his "juice" when asked about it. He has never been fined previously for the celebration and told Schefter via text that, "I don't even drink beer."
In a post to X written Thursday morning in response to the fine, Juszczyk wrote, simply "Can't make this stuff up..."
Juszczyk is in his 10th season with the 49ers after signing as a free agent from the Baltimore Ravens in 2017.
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