Brock Purdy Blasts NFL Over ‘Confusing’ $15,000 Fine Issued to 49ers Teammate

Brock Purdy is coming off back-to-back wins to start 2026, a 27-7 statement win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne and a 35-13 rout of the Miami Dolphins at home. Yet this week found the 49ers quarterback fielding questions with nothing to do with either game. A punishment handed to Kyle Juszczyk, one of his most trusted teammates, left Purdy, and much of the locker room, struggling to make sense of it.

Brock Purdy reacts to Kyle Juszczyk’s fine controversy

The NFL fined Juszczyk $14,926 this week over the celebration he performed after his six-yard touchdown catch from Purdy in Week 2 against Miami. After hauling in the score, Juszczyk raised his right hand to his mouth, tilted his head back, and mimed taking a drink, the same gesture tied to his longtime nickname, Juice. The league classified the move as an offensive demonstration and compared it to imitating a beer chug.

Purdy told reporters: “Juice, that’s his name. He drinks a juice box after he makes big plays. We’re all confused, and it sucks, to be honest, for him.”

Brock Purdy on Kyle Juszczyk’s fine:

“Yeah I’ve seen Juice do his celebration for like five years. So, I’m a little confused with the punishment he’s dealing with…

Juice, that’s his name. He drinks a juice box after he makes big plays. We’re all confused and it sucks to be… pic.twitter.com/ztcMDOhVd9

— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) September 24, 2026

The 49ers quarterback also pointed out the irony given how closely head coach Kyle Shanahan monitors celebrations across the league. Purdy said Shanahan regularly flags violent post-touchdown antics or players climbing the goalposts, yet Juszczyk’s routine, performed for years, had never come up as a concern before this fine.

Juszczyk has appealed the decision. His hearing is scheduled for Tuesday and will also address a separate $20,033 fine from a Week 1 unnecessary roughness penalty against the Rams.

Kyle Juszczyk’s locker room response draws support

Juszczyk found the entire situation hard to believe. He reposted news of the fine with a short message before turning to visual props for reporters, including a jug labeled Not Beer and a thigh pad decorated with a hand drawn juice box.

Juszczyk explained simply: “I wasn’t drinking beer in my celebration.”

Teammates quickly rallied around him. George Kittle joked about the situation during his own media session, half serious about making it official.

Kittle joked Thursday: “We’re gonna sign a petition: Juice’s new nickname is ‘Beer’ now.”

The support extended beyond the locker room, with other players publicly questioning the league’s reasoning. Juszczyk’s appeal hearing next week will determine whether the fine stands, setting up another chapter in one of the more lighthearted disputes of the 49ers’ season so far.

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