49ers star Kyle Juszczyk trolls NFL’s drinking celebration fine with locker room prop

Kyle Juszczyk just couldn’t believe it.

When the San Francisco 49ers fullback was approached by Kyle Shanahan at practice this week and informed he had been fined by the NFL for pretending to drink a beverage during the Niners’ game against the Dolphins this past Sunday, he figured it was all a joke.

“I thought maybe he was just messing with me,” Juszczyk said on Thursday.

The 10-time Pro Bowler, however, quickly found out it was real.

The league did indeed dock Juszczyk $14,926 for “engaging in an offensive demonstration” by imitating “chugging a beer” in the team’s contest vs. Miami, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and Juszczyk said he was floored when the league’s notice officially hit his inbox this week.

“I don’t know how else to say it, I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration,” the 35-year-old said. “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. It’s been that way for years.

“So, I was surprised as anybody when I got fined this past week.”

The announcement of the fine initially sent shockwaves through the Niners locker room, before it ruffled feathers across the entire NFL.

First, it was Juszczyk and his wife who publicly pushed back against the league’s penalty by going on social media to show the drinking celebration had been a part of the 49ers player’s repertoire for years.

Then it was Juszczyk’s good friend and teammate George Kittle who went to bat for the fullback on X.

“Can confirm he doesn’t really drink beer but is a good guy,” Kittle wrote.

Hours later, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase — who was also fined for demonstratively moving his elbow in a game against the Texans on Sunday — chimed in on the issue and expressed discontent with the league and the NFL Players Association for the ordeal.

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“I think this is where the superstars have to get in with the NFLPA and fight for our money,” Chase said. “If he’s getting fined for doing a drinking juice gesture, then I’m getting fined for an elbow and doing the first down thing, I mean, I can’t really do much about it.”

Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt also publicly disagreed with the league’s decision, writing on his social media page, “For a guy whose nickname is Juice, could it not be ‘reasonably construed’ that he is drinking… stay with me here… Juice?”

Juszczyk, who was also fined $20,033 for an illegal helmet block in Week 1, said he is planning to appeal the fines at a hearing next week.

“I don’t even drink beer,” Juszczyk said. “I maybe drink like five times a year in the offseason. And it’s usually with George because he pressures me. So that’s a whole ‘nother side to me.”

As he awaits the sitdown with league officials, Juszczyk seems content to make light of the situation.

Juszczyk wrapped a water bottle in tape and wrote “Not Beer” on it before his Thursday meeting with reporters.

Kittle, meanwhile, joked he’s going to try start calling his pal a new name going forward.

“I think we’re going to sign a petition to Juice’s new nickname is Beer now,” the tight end said. “So, that’s his new thing.”