SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Juszczyk won his appeal over the fines issued by the NFL for his “Juice” celebration and the league later ruled that all drinking celebrations will be allowed going forward.
Juszczyk was initially fined $29,852 for two infractions of the league’s sportsmanship rules after celebrating two catches in the third quarter of a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins by doing what he has done for years: imitating drinking a beverage while the fans at Levi’s Stadium cheered “Juice!” for his nickname.
The NFL has vowed to crack down on celebrations this season and initially ruled that the “imitation of chugging a beer constituted an offensive demonstration and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste.”
Juszczyk won his appeal, and the league clarified the celebration penalties in a joint statement with the NFLPA on Wednesday.
The statement said gestures that depict violence, including the use of guns or other weapons or gang-related signs, that depict smoking or drug use, or are sexual in nature are banned and could result in fines and/or a penalty.
But Juszczyk's celebration is allowed.
“Conversely, recent celebrations imitating drinking a beverage will not be considered violations or result in discipline,” the statement said. “The league-wide guidance provides players with greater clarity on how they can celebrate while remaining within the rules.”
The statement also said that any conduct that falls “into a gray area” will lead to a warning before any discipline is administered.
The NFL has issued 21 fines in the first three weeks for illegal celebrations or obscene gestures totaling more than $300,000.
JC Tretter, the president of the NFLPA, said all of those fines have been appealed.
“We raised this issue and pushed for greater clarity around what will and won’t result in discipline,” he said on social media. “When something falls into a gray area, communication and education should come before punishment. We’re glad the league will seek to educate players before immediately defaulting to a fine.”
Juszczyk has been doing a version of that drinking celebration throughout his career in San Francisco in response to 49ers fans chanting his nickname after catches or other big plays. He argued in the appeal that he was imitating drinking juice.
“I don’t know how else to say it. I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” Juszczyk said on Sept. 24. “I think you guys all know my nickname is Juice. I have Juice on my pads. The stadium yells ‘Juice!’ when I catch the ball. When I celebrate, I celebrate by drinking juice, and it’s been that way for years. So I was surprised as anybody when I got a fine this week.”
Juszczyk has been the 49ers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship for the past six seasons. The only fines he previously has had were for illegal use of the helmet and low blocks.
Juszczyk is in his 14th season in the NFL and 10th with San Francisco. He has made the Pro Bowl 10 times and was an All-Pro in 2023 and ’25.
