The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk for an alleged act of “offensive display,” when the league says he pretended to drink a beer in the end zone to celebrate a touchdown. In the third quarter of an eventual 35-13 Niners victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Juszczyk caught a 6-yard touchdown toss from Brock Purdy. Juszczyk hugged teammates Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel before bringing his right hand to his mouth. Juszczyk leaned his head back and then pretended to drink an imaginary liquid. That celly was deemed excessive and unsportsmanlike, leading to a fine of nearly $15,000, ESPN first reported Thursday. “His imitation of drinking a beer constituted an offensive display and could reasonably be construed as being in poor taste,” the NFL wrote in its fine letter, according to ESPN. Juszczyk later confirmed the report with a bewildered new post on X: “I can’t make this stuff up.” Juszczyk, 35, is in his 14th year of professional football and 10th with the Niners. He is one of the most popular players on the team, and the 49ers faithful erupt into chants of “Juice,” his nickname, every time the Harvard graduate carries or catches the ball. The 10-time Pro Bowl fullback has also gained fame in recent years thanks to the rising profile of his wife, designer Kristin Juszczyk. NFL fines are typically publicly disclosed on Saturdays and league representatives could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. A 49ers representative said fines are a problem for players around the league, so the Niners “have no involvement or awareness in that process.”
