'Weight Off My Shoulders!' Rams Reflect on Puka Nacua's Record
The last time the Los Angeles Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium, Puka Nacua was a senior in high school.
He set many records then, too, but played second-fiddle in the trophy department of the Nacua household behind his brother, Kai, who spent six seasons with various NFL teams.
Kai played in six games with the 49ers in 2020 and 2021; the last time his mom, Penina, was in Levi's Stadium was for one of his games.
This Sunday, Penina was back - to watch Puka set NFL single-season rookie receiving records for catches (105) and receiving yards (1,486) - and to see the Rams take a 21-20 victory over the 49ers in the season finale.
When Puka secured the mark, he ran to Penina. He later gave her the game ball - with hopes it'll be proudly displayed in the Nacua's basement.
"There's definitely a room downstairs that has a bunch of old peewee football trophies," Puka said. "I don't know where it'll go on the ranking. I think Kai's got some gear that'll be sweet and always rank up there because it's the first one, but hopefully, I'll make the wall somewhere."
Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (left) talks with his mother Penina (right) after defeating the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
The Rams made it a focal point to get Nacua the record, but coach Sean McVay admitted he reached a point where the pursuit almost felt too much.
McVay, whose now-viral reaction to watching Nacua get the record included a notion to immediately remove him from the game, said postgame the task with frustrating - though he said so with relief.
"I thought it was the football God's at the end telling me, 'This is now how you do it,'" McVay said. "You want to give him an opportunity to get that because of what he put himself in a position for, but when you start getting outside the framework of operation, it's almost like they're saying, 'Hey, you know better.'"
Nacua nearly had the record with his 19-yard touchdown reception on the Rams' first drive, but he needed another yard. Still, he thought he accomplished the feat and was confused in the immediate aftermath.
"I did think it was the record, but then nobody was celebrating with me," Nacua said, smiling. "I was like 'Wait, what happened?' I was just so lost at that moment. To catch a touchdown was sweet, too - it was a nice little cherry on top."
The 22-year-old Nacua was on the receiving end of six targets from quarterback Carson Wentz, starting in place of Matthew Stafford, who received the week off ahead of the playoff opener.
Wentz and Nacua connected on four passes for 41 yards, though the veteran signal-caller feels he missed a few.
Still, Wentz walked away from his first time throwing to Nacua in a live game setting impressed with what he'd seen and happy to have played a part in making history.
"It was fun - I'd never gotten the chance to play with him. So, to see him in person, the plays he made, it was fun to see that. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I knew that was a big responsibility of me to help him get that record.
"So, pretty impressive kid, impressive record. Happy for him."
In a sense, Nacua setting the record with Wentz, not Stafford, as the quarterback is fitting - it proves the award goes beyond one or two individuals.
And in a year in which the Rams started 3-6, finished 10-7 and will return to the playoffs with a road game against the Detroit Lions, Nacua wants the focus to go beyond his own accolades.
"As much as it will say Puka Nacua, I wish it could say everybody, all 11 guys out there," Nacua said. "They should all feel that award just as much as I have."
Nacua and the Rams will look to keep their impressive season alive Sunday at 5 p.m. PST inside Ford Field.
