San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk won his appeal after the NFL fined him $14,926 over a celebration it initially believed mimicked drinking beer. (Image via Getty)
Kyle Juszczyk was fined $14,926 for a celebration the NFL believed showed him chugging beer. Juszczyk used the celebration twice during the game, including after a 6-yard touchdown. Because of the NFL’s Bud Light sponsorships, the league’s explanation also referenced Juszczyk’s argument that the punishment was hypocritical.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the NFL rescinded the fine after determining Juszczyk was simulating drinking from a juice box.
The San Francisco 49ers fullback won his appeal after arguing that the celebration referenced his longtime “Juice” nickname. 23 for “engaging in offensive demonstrations,” according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “Even if it was beer, I don’t think that should be a problem with all the beer endorsements that we have in the NFL,” Juszczyk said.
Two weeks later, the league decided it had read the moment wrong. The NFL fined him Sept. “We have everything. So even if it was beer, which it wasn’t, I still felt like it wasn’t an infraction. For the NFL, the appeal closed one dispute but left the broader policy under a brighter light. Juszczyk argued that his celebration was about juice. The league ultimately agreed with that part.