Cooler heads sometimes prevail in the NFL, and that was the case recently with the San Francisco 49ers’ fullback Kyle Juszczyk. He received a fine of $14,926 for a celebration that the league first thought looked like he was mimicking drinking a beer. However, the NFL has now recognized its misstep.
Juszczyk had a reasonable defense ready. He pointed out that, well, he doesn’t usually drink. Plus, he’s nicknamed “Juice,” and 49ers fans often chant that when he makes a play. Essentially, he claimed he was imitating the act of drinking juice, not beer. The hearing officer on the case found this explanation quite valid, which makes sense.
Initially, the league described his celebration as “an offensive demonstration” that could be seen as poor taste. But during the appeal, which was held via Zoom, Juszczyk argued—it was a clever point—about the contradiction of the NFL’s stance while the league is surrounded by Bud Light sponsorships. He made a strong case, and it seemed to resonate.
When the fine first became public, Juszczyk expressed his surprise; he had been performing this celebration for years, and it was never meant to suggest beer. “I don’t know how else to say it. I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” he insisted. He mentioned, “I think you all know my nickname is ‘Juice.’ I have juice inscribed on my pads, and the stadium cheers ‘Juice’ when I catch the ball.”
Juszczyk clarified further, saying, “I don’t even drink beer. I might drink five times a year, usually in the offseason, and it’s typically with my teammate George Kittle because he pressures me into it.” This adjustment to the fine must have been a relief for him, especially because he had just suffered a knee injury during the game against the Denver Broncos.
After an MRI, it was confirmed that he sustained a hyperextension and a bone bruise, which means he will be sidelined for a few weeks, as Coach Kyle Shanahan reported. So for now, any juice drinking celebrations will have to wait.
