San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk has successfully appealed the fine he received from the NFL over a celebration that the league initially considered “offensive. The celebration involved Juszczyk mimicking the act of drinking, which officials believed resembled someone chugging a beer.
Juszczyk was originally handed a $29,852 fine for two violations of the NFL’s sportsmanship rules after celebrating two catches during the third quarter of San Francisco’s Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
An appeals officer ultimately ruled in his favor, with the league confirming Wednesday that the $14,926 portion of the punishment tied to the celebration had been rescinded. Because it appeared to depict drinking alcohol, the NFL determined that Juszczyk’s celebration crossed the line under its sportsmanship rules. The punishment marked the second consecutive week in which Juszczyk had been fined by the NFL’s Gameday Accountability Team, prompting an immediate reaction from fans and fellow players. After receiving the fine, Juszczyk appealed the NFL’s decision. Juszczyk also described the punishment as hypocritical given the NFL’s relationship with alcohol brands, pointing to the prominent presence of Bud Light sponsorships surrounding the league.
