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Puka Nacua, superstar wide receiver from the Los Angeles Rams, is one of the most talented NFL players currently.
His work ethic, infectious attitude and elite football IQ has put him above the rest and he's one of the big reasons why his team is a contender.
The 23-year-old has exploded onto the scene with Los Angeles, producing a NFL-rookie record 1,486 receiving yards on a then-rookie-best 105 receptions. And on his sophomore season, the former BYU Cougar standout had 79 grabs for 990 yards and three touchdowns, but missed six games due to a knee injury.
The reason why Nacua cries before every game
Puka Nacua plays football with ion and emotion, and he has been caught crying before every game in the NFL. The reason is very touching: his father, Lionel Nacua, died from diabetes when the superstar wide receiver was 11 years old.
Puka's father dreamed of his son playing in the NFL, so everytime he steps on the field and gets ready to battle, he can't help but his loved one and he lets his emotions go. He has stated publicly that he's learning to harness his emotions and keep them under control during games.
The Las Vegas, Nevada native has started using breathing exercises and affirmations to help him focus and perform at the highest level possible. He's also been trying not to be a "mouth-breather", particularly during games, and he's also big on not focusing on fatigue.
Nacua had an extraordinary second year in the league
No other qualified wide receiver cleared 2.9 yards per route, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Puka Nacua was a matchup nightmare no matter where he was on the field, or how opponents tried to slow down the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver.
Nacua ranked first in YPRR against zone coverage (3.57) by 0.66 yards and seventh versus man coverage (3.04), via to PFF. Meanwhile, NGS had him at third in YPRR from the slot (3.3) and second out wide (3.4). He may have missed a few games, but Nacua's production on a per-route basis was unmatched in 2024.
The Rams favorite word heading into the 2025 regular season would be "resilience", something they showed during last year. "The classic saying is, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." said Nacua before their matchup against the eventual Super Bowl Champions Philadelphia Eagles, and that's exactly what the Los Angeles team is going to need in the fall.