Puka Nacua Raises Eyebrows with Bold Comments About NFL Referees Ahead of Crucial NFC West Clash
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been one of the breakout stars of the NFL season - a dynamic playmaker with a knack for rising to the moment. But this week, it wasn’t his route-running or sideline toe-taps making headlines. Instead, it was a candid moment during a livestream that sent shockwaves through the football world.
While appearing on a stream with internet personalities Adin Ross and N3on, Nacua didn’t hold back when asked about NFL officiating. “The refs are the worst,” he said.
“They wanna be on TV too, brother. Like, 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 PI, but I called it.’”
That’s not just venting frustration - that’s a direct shot at the integrity of NFL officiating. Nacua went on to suggest that some referees may be making questionable calls intentionally, not for competitive reasons, but for personal attention and airtime. “They are lawyers, they wanna be on TV,” he added, doubling down on the idea that some officials might be chasing the spotlight as much as the players.
Now, let’s be clear: criticism of referees is nothing new in the NFL. Every fan base has had its moment - or several - where a missed call or questionable flag felt like the difference between a win and a loss.
But when that criticism comes from a player, especially one as prominent as Nacua, it hits differently. The league has a history of handing out fines for comments deemed detrimental to officiating crews, and while some of those have been overturned on appeal, others have stuck.
Whether Nacua’s comments will result in league discipline remains to be seen, but this certainly won’t go unnoticed in New York.
This isn’t the first time Nacua has found himself at the center of a referee-related controversy either. Earlier this season, during a tightly contested game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looked to connect with Nacua on a critical late-game play.
The pass fell incomplete, and many watching - including fans and analysts - felt there was a clear case for defensive pass interference. No flag was thrown.
That non-call fueled speculation and frustration, and it’s possible that moment still lingers in Nacua’s mind.
What’s undeniable is that the timing of these comments couldn’t be more dramatic. The Rams are gearing up for one of their biggest games of the season - a high-stakes NFC West showdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams come into Thursday night’s clash with identical 11-3 records, and the outcome could very well decide the division crown and shape the NFC playoff picture.
In other words, this is not the week to be drawing attention off the field. But Nacua, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, has added an unexpected subplot to what was already shaping up to be a marquee matchup.
For the Rams, the focus now has to shift back to football. Seattle’s defense has been stingy in recent weeks, and containing Nacua will be a top priority for Pete Carroll’s group. Nacua, meanwhile, will look to let his play do the talking - and after this week’s headlines, all eyes will be on him.
Whether the league responds to his comments or not, the message is out there. A rising NFL star just pulled back the curtain - even slightly - on what he believes is a very real issue with officiating. And with the playoffs looming, that conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.