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Oct 8,2026 08:04 PM IST

NFL Changes 'Drinking’ Celebration Rules In Surprising Move That Could Reshape Touchdown Moments

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Sports Home US Sports NFL NFL Changes Drinking Celebration Rules In Surprising Move That Could Reshape Touchdown Moments

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NFL Changes 'Drinking’ Celebration Rules In Surprising Move That Could Reshape Touchdown Moments

NFL players can now mimic drinking during celebrations without facing fines. The clarification follows overturned penalties against Kyle Juszczyk and Jake Ferguson, while violence, drugs, smoking and sexual gestures remain banned.

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NFL clarifies what players can do during touchdown celebrations© X (Formerly Twitter)/@nfl

The NFL has settled one of the oddest celebration issues to pop up this season. Players can now mimic drinking a beverage after a big play without being fined for it. The league and NFLPA announced the change this week after two recent fines were overturned. San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk was fined on September 23, and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was also penalized for a chugging celebration. Both fines were later rescinded. The league also clarified the celebrations that remain prohibited. And there is now a little more room for players when a celebration isn't so easy to categorize. In those cases, the NFL says it will contact the player before imposing discipline.

NFL makes changes about drinking celebrations

The wording from the league is clear: celebrations “imitating drinking a beverage” are not violations and will not lead to discipline.

That puts a bow on the controversy surrounding Juszczyk. The NFL had fined the 49ers fullback for what it considered an offensive demonstration, apparently interpreting his celebration as an imitation of drinking beer.

Juszczyk's explanation was different. He was drinking from a juice box, a reference to his nickname.

He made his frustration known on social media and then showed up for a media session on September 24 carrying a jug labeled “Not Beer.” The NFL eventually rescinded the fine after hearing his side of the story. Juszczyk also questioned the decision because of Bud Light's sponsorship presence around the league.

Ferguson's fine added another layer to the issue. Rather than treating every drinking-style gesture as a violation, the league has now drawn a clearer distinction between that type of celebration and the gestures it actually wants removed from the game.

Those restrictions remain significant. Players can still be penalized for gestures depicting violence, including guns and gang signs, as well as gestures depicting smoking or drug use. Sexual gestures are also prohibited. Any of those can bring a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, a fine, or both.

The drinking celebration itself is no longer on that list.

What the change means for touchdown celebrations

For players, the biggest benefit is knowing the rule before they celebrate.

Touchdown celebrations aren't exactly planned press conferences. They happen in the moment, often with teammates piling in and emotions running high. A player who isn't sure whether a gesture crosses the line has an obvious reason to keep things simple.

That uncertainty is now gone for simulated drinking.

It could also bring back some of the playful celebrations that became risky under the previous interpretation. Juszczyk and Ferguson showed how quickly a routine that looks harmless to fans can turn into a league-office issue.

The NFL hasn't given players a free pass on everything, though. If a celebration falls into a gray area, the league says it will contact the player and “provide direction” before issuing discipline. A player could still be warned that repeating the celebration may result in fines down the road.

That process could prove more important than the drinking clarification itself.

Juszczyk's case was ultimately about the league interpreting one object incorrectly. It saw a beer. He was holding a juice box. The fine disappeared once the league got the full explanation.

Now, players have a clearer path when something similar happens. Instead of immediately turning an ambiguous celebration into a financial penalty, the league can ask what the player actually meant.

For a sport that has spent years trying to balance player personality with its celebration rules, that is a fairly practical adjustment.

Topics mentioned in this article

NFL

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