NFL Will Stop Fining Players for 'Beverage' Celebrations, Announces Updated List of Illegal Acts

The NFL and NFL Players Association are clarifying rules for on-field celebrations after walking back fines for players who mimed chugging drinks after scoring touchdowns.

The league will no longer discipline players "imitating drinking a beverage" on the field, the NFL and NFLPA announced Wednesday.

Prohibited gestures include imitating smoking or drug use, as well as anything the league rules is sexual or depicting violence.

That includes gestures miming the use of guns or other weapons, the NFL and NFLPA said.

Other gestures described as unsportsmanlike conduct in the NFL rulebook include throat slashing or "nose wipe" gestures. The league stopped penalizing bow-and-arrow celebrations ahead of the 2025 season.

The news comes after the NFL rescinded fines for San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, who were initially disciplined for miming drinking after Week 2 touchdowns.

The NFL said Wednesday players whose celebrations fall "into a gray area" will now be contacted and advised before any discipline is imposed.

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter said in a social media post the change came after an "unusual spike" in celebration fines.

A total of 20 celebration fines were issued to players over Weeks 2 and 3, and all 20 have since been appealed, Tretter said.

"When something falls into a gray area, communication and education should come before punishment," Tretter wrote. "We're glad the league will seek to educate players before immediately defaulting to a fine."

Both Juszczyk and Ferguson argued in their appeals they were pretending to drink non-alcoholic beverages.

The NFL noted when rescinding Juszczyk's fine the fullback had "stated that the fine is hypocritical with the amount of Bud Light sponsorships surrounding the NFL," per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The NFL had issued 88 total fines as of Week 3. Fines for players punished for illegal celebrations have ranged from $8,847 to $14,926.

The rule changes regarding fines come amid an uptick in accepted penalties. The NFL has upheld 963 flags through Week 4, marking the highest total since at least 1978, per ESPN Insights.