Kyle Juszczyk and the San Francisco 49ers have built their unbeaten start on more than star power at the skill positions, and the veteran fullback has quietly been one of the biggest reasons why. The 35-year-old, a first-team All-Pro, has filled in at fullback, tight end and receiver for an offense battered by injuries, producing four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers opened the 2026 NFL season 4-0.
That lone touchdown came against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 20, a 6-yard score that briefly became more talked-about than the result itself. After crossing the goal line, Juszczyk brought his hand to his mouth in a tipping motion, a celebration that looked harmless but didn’t sit well with the league office.
The NFL fined him $14,926 for unsportsmanlike conduct, describing the gesture as an “imitation of chugging a beer” and calling it an offensive demonstration in poor taste.
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Juszczyk pushed back almost immediately, explaining that the celebration had nothing to do with alcohol at all. The gesture, he said, referenced his longtime “Juice” nickname, which is stitched onto his pads and chanted by the home crowd whenever he scores.
The explanation set up a standoff between the fullback and the league over what the moment actually represented. “When I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice and it’s been that way for years,” Juszczyk said, adding that he doesn’t even drink beer.
The fine also drew reactions from fans and players, and Jason Kelce took the criticism further on his “New Heights” podcast, calling the fine “hypocrisy at the highest level.“
Now, apparently, the league has agreed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Juszczyk won his appeal and the NFL rescinded the $14,926 fine, with the league stating the celebration was simulating “drinking a juice box, not a beer.”
Many still point to the irony of the league fining an assumed beer chug celebration while Bud Light remains tied to the NFL through sponsorship.
The fullback suffered a knee sprain and bone bruise in the win over Denver, an injury reportedly expected to keep him out two to three weeks. The 49ers will play Sunday, Oct. 11, on the road against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
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