Puka Nacua Sounds Off on NFL Officiating Ahead of Crucial Rams-Seahawks Clash
Just days before one of the most pivotal games of the Rams’ season, wide receiver Puka Nacua found himself in the spotlight for something other than his on-field heroics.
During a livestream on Tuesday night with popular streamers Adin Ross and N3on, Nacua didn’t hold back when the conversation turned to NFL officiating. The Rams star, in the middle of a breakout season, gave voice to a frustration that many players - and fans - have felt at one point or another.
“The refs are the worst,” Nacua said, responding to a question about officials. He went on to suggest that some referees might enjoy the limelight a little too much: **“These guys want to be … these guys are lawyers.
They want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football.
That wasn’t P.I., but I called it.’” **
It was a raw, unfiltered moment from one of the league’s rising stars - the kind of comment that can stir up headlines and, potentially, league discipline. But Nacua did take a step back from his initial remarks when pressed further, acknowledging, “I mean, these guys are normal human beings too, bro.”
That last line may not be enough to avoid scrutiny from the league office. The NFL has a long history of handing down fines to players and coaches who cross the line when it comes to critiquing officiating - even if the comments come off-the-cuff or outside a formal press setting.
Just last season, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 for comments made after a controversial offsides call erased a potential game-winning touchdown against the Bills. Reid, like Nacua, is a BYU alum, and he didn’t mince words in his postgame remarks, calling the situation “a bit embarrassing” and pointing out that officials typically offer a warning before flagging a receiver for lining up incorrectly.
Patrick Mahomes also got hit with a $50,000 fine for his reaction - which included a heated postgame exchange with Josh Allen and frustration voiced during his press conference. Mahomes, trying to balance honesty with professionalism, said, “They’re human, they make mistakes, but it’s every week we’re talking about something … it’s just tough to swallow.”
And it’s not just coaches and quarterbacks. Last January, Texans running back Joe Mixon was fined $25,000 after a playoff loss to Kansas City, though the fine was later rescinded after a hearing determined his comments didn’t cross the line into public criticism of officials.
Whether Nacua’s comments will lead to league action remains to be seen, but there’s no question they’ve added a little extra intrigue to Thursday night’s showdown between the Rams and Seahawks.
Nacua’s Numbers Speak Louder Than Words
While his livestream comments grabbed headlines, Nacua’s play this season has done most of the talking. The third-year wideout - a former BYU and Orem High standout - is putting together a monster campaign. He’s currently second in the NFL in both receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,367), and he’s found the end zone six times for a surging Rams team sitting at 11-3.
Over the past two weeks alone, Nacua has been virtually unstoppable, racking up 16 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns in back-to-back wins over Arizona and Detroit. He’s been a matchup nightmare - too quick for linebackers, too strong for corners, and clearly in sync with the Rams’ offensive rhythm.
As Los Angeles prepares to host Seattle on Thursday night (kickoff at 6:15 p.m. MST on Prime Video), the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A win would push the Rams closer to locking up the NFC’s top seed. A loss, meanwhile, would punch Seattle’s ticket to the postseason.
With playoff positioning on the line, emotions are running high - and Nacua’s comments are just the latest reminder of how much pressure is riding on every snap this time of year. Whether or not the league decides to fine him, the Rams’ receiver will be back in the spotlight Thursday night - this time under the lights, not the livestream.
And if his recent form is any indication, he’s more than ready to let his game do the talking.