Puka Nacua Addresses Controversial Week Following Rams’ Overtime Loss to Seahawks
It’s been a whirlwind week for Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua-on the field, he’s been rewriting the record books. Off it, he's been navigating the kind of spotlight that can get a little too hot. On Thursday night, Nacua finally spoke publicly about a string of off-field controversies that followed the Rams’ dramatic 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks.
Let’s start with the now-deleted tweet. Right after the final whistle in that heartbreaker, Nacua took to social media and fired off a pointed message aimed at the officials: “Can you say I was wrong.
Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.”
It didn’t take long for the post to disappear, but not before it made the rounds and sparked plenty of conversation.
On Thursday, Nacua addressed the tweet head-on. “Just a moment of frustration after a tough and intense game like that,” he said. “Just thinking of the opportunities I could have done better, take it out of [the refs'] hands.”
That frustration wasn’t limited to Twitter. Earlier in the week, Nacua appeared on a livestream with content creator Adin Ross, where he didn’t hold back on his thoughts about NFL officiating.
“The refs are the worst,” he said during the stream. “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 PI, but I called it.'”
When asked Thursday if he truly believes officials make calls to get TV time, Nacua walked it back. “No, I don't,” he said.
“It was just a lack of awareness and just in some frustration. I know there were moments where I feel like, man, you watch the other games and you think of the calls that some guys get and you wish you could get some of those, but that's just how football is played.
And I’ll do my job in order to work my technique to make sure that there's not an issue with the call.”
That’s a mature response from a young star still adjusting to life under the NFL microscope. And it’s clear the Rams aren’t brushing this aside. Nacua shared that he had a conversation with head coach Sean McVay in the wake of the livestream controversy.
“Coach has just echoed that he's always in continuous support of me,” Nacua said. “He's disappointed in some of the actions that I've just distracted my teammates in.
I know I'll learn from it. I don't want to be a distraction in any week, especially on a short week.
So we talked about that, and he's right there behind me.”
Earlier Thursday, Nacua also issued a public apology for a touchdown celebration he had promised during the same livestream-one that was widely criticized for being anti-Semitic in nature. He acknowledged the mistake and took responsibility for letting his actions off the field overshadow what he’s doing between the lines.
And make no mistake-what Nacua is doing on the field is historic. In that same loss to Seattle, he posted a monster stat line: 12 catches, 225 yards, and two touchdowns.
That performance made him the first player since 1995 to record 165-plus receiving yards in three straight games. That’s not just good-that’s all-time territory.
“There is a time and place for some things,” Nacua said, reflecting on the past week. “And there are comments that I should definitely say to the guys in the locker room and to be aware of the situation that we're in. But then also just to stay and use every moment to prepare for the week.”
It’s been a learning experience for Nacua, no doubt. And while the off-field distractions have made headlines, his play continues to speak volumes. The Rams have a special talent in Nacua-one who’s still finding his footing in the spotlight, but proving each week that he belongs among the league’s elite.