Rams star Puka Nacua fined by NFL after renewed referee criticism and close loss to Seahawks

Los Angeles Rams prima wide receiver Puka Nacua’s tumultuous Thursday began with an apology and ended with much arguable remarks.

In between, helium had a career-best performance. 

After catching 12 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns successful Thursday's overtime nonaccomplishment to the Seattle Seahawks, Nacua erstwhile again expressed his vexation with however NFL referees handled the game.

Nacua antecedently suggested crippled officials shared similarities to attorneys. The remarks came aft the third-year wideout claimed immoderate referees propulsion flags during games to ramp up their camera time.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua warms up earlier a crippled against the New Orleans Saints astatine SoFi Stadium.  (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

After the Seahawks 38-37 triumph propelled Seattle to the apical spot successful the NFC standings, Nacua took a veiled changeable astatine the game's officials. 

"Can you accidental one was wrong. Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol," helium wrote connected X.

The Pro Bowler added that his connection connected X was made successful "a infinitesimal of vexation aft a tough, aggravated crippled similar that."

RAMS STAR PUKA NACUA ACCUSES REFS OF MAKING UP CALLS TO GET ON TV: 'THE WORST'

"It was conscionable a deficiency of consciousness and conscionable immoderate frustration," Nacua said. "I cognize determination were moments wherever I consciousness like, ‘Man, you ticker the different games and you deliberation of the calls that immoderate guys get and you privation you could get immoderate of those.’ But that's conscionable however shot has played, and I'll bash my occupation successful bid to enactment my method to marque definite that there's not an contented with the call."

But, this time, Nacua's disapproval resulted successful a hefty fine. The league issued a $25,000 penalty, according to NFL Network. 

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) runs with the shot during the 2nd fractional against the Seattle Seahawks Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, successful Seattle.  (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Nacua had expressed aggravation connected societal media conscionable days aft the 24-year-old asserted during a livestream quality with net personalities Adin Ross and N3on that "the refs are the worst."

"Some of the rules aren't ... these guys privation to beryllium ... these guys are lawyers. They privation to beryllium connected TV too," Nacua said, per ESPN. "You don't deliberation he's texting his friends successful the radical chat like, ‘Yo, you guys conscionable saw maine connected "Sunday Night Football." That wasn't P.I., but I called it.'"

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) scores a touchdown during the 2nd fractional against the Seattle Seahawks Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, successful Seattle.  (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

On Thursday, reporters asked Nacua if helium wanted to clarify his stance connected the proposition referees actively question being successful beforehand of cameras during games. 

"No, I don't," helium replied.

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Also connected Thursday, Nacua apologized for performing a motion that plays upon antisemitic tropes.

"I had nary thought this enactment was antisemitic successful quality and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people," the receiver said successful an Instagram post. "I profoundly apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions arsenic I bash not basal for immoderate signifier of racism, bigotry oregon hatred of different radical of people."

Rams manager Sean McVay dismissed the thought that each the off-field chatter surrounding Nacua was a distraction starring up to Los Angeles' clash with its NFC West part rival. 

"It wasn’t a distraction astatine all," McVay said. "Did you deliberation his play showed helium was distracted? I didn’t deliberation truthful either. He went disconnected today."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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