Puka Nacua spent April 29 becoming the 20th wide receiver taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams’ fifth-round rookie has now rewritten the league’s rookie record books in Week 18.
The Rams rolled the dice and allowed Nacua to avoid rest ahead of the playoffs — and on a day his veteran leaders Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald weren’t in shoulder pads against the San Francisco 49ers. Nacua finally got pulled in the third quarter after breaking two records in back-to-back plays. In the process, he sparked multiple reactions online including from a head coach very familiar with him.
The Records Puka Nacua Shattered
Needing just one yard to shatter a 63-year-old mark, Nacua got five to break the most receiving yards by a rookie.
HISTORY 👏 Puka Nacua becomes the ALL-TIME NFL rookie record holder for receiving yards in a season!
📺: #LARvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/X0vcyHUoyR pic.twitter.com/fgWhCQyHXB— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
The previous mark was made by Bill Groman, who tallied 1,473 receiving yards in his first season back in 1960. However, Nacua wasn’t done. He had one more record to catch.
And on this short reception, he broke the single-season receptions record for a rookie previously set in 2021 by the Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle.
AND THE ROOKIE RECEPTIONS RECORD!
📺 @NFLonFOX | @ASAPpuka pic.twitter.com/Gw9g7a96UK
— x – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 7, 2024
Here are the new NFL marks broken by Nacua:
#Rams WR Puka Nacua has broken the #NFL records for most receptions and most receiving yards by a rookie 🔥
The 5th-round pick out of @BYUFootball is HIM❕#RamsHouse | #PFN365 pic.twitter.com/TNAIOw3PWn
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 7, 2024
Head coach Sean McVay watched from the sideline when history was made on consecutive plays. McVay, though, was clearly more focused on giving Nacua his deserving rest.
“Nice, now get him out,” McVay is seen saying on the sidelines.
#Rams HC Sean McVay couldn’t wait for Puka Nacua to break the records so he could get him out the game 😂#RamsHouse
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 7, 2024
Following the records rewrite, Nacua was then captured sharing this emotional moment with his mother on the field.
Puka Nacua shares a moment with his family after breaking the NFL rookie receiving record 🥲💙 pic.twitter.com/WAbTZX9pSJ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 7, 2024
To reiterate, Nacua rewrote the record books as a WR who fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Names like Quentin Johnston, Marvin Mims Jr., and Tre Tucker all got selected ahead of him — and none of the three ended up surpassing 40 catches before Week 18.
Nacua’s record-shattering day sparked multiple reactions online.
“He’s Here To Stay” Among Notable Reactions
Pre-draft, Nacua was labeled an “average backup or special teamer.” One other piece of NFL Draft analysis mentioned how Nacua came with “below-average route-running skills.”
The narrative has swiftly changed for the former BYU Cougar. Fans are now looking at a potentially long career out of Nacua.
“He’s here to stay,” PFN’s Kyle Yates posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Absolute STAR,” added ESPN NFL insider Field Yates.
One fan believed that Nacua would eventually become impactful for the Rams despite his low draft grade. Yet, the fan never envisioned Groman and Waddle’s records falling by season’s end courtesy of Nacua.
“I said that Puka Nacua would be a steal back in April, but never in my wildest dreams did I think the Rams 5th round pick would make the Pro Bowl and break the rookie record for receptions/yards. The Rams struck gold with Puka. Absolutely incredible,” the fan posted.
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Even Rams legend Jim Everett, who took L.A. to the NFC title game in the 1990 season, sent his congrats to the rookie.
Finally, even Nacua’s high school football head coach sent out a reaction, and Jeremy Hill of Orem High in Utah believed this day was bound to happen.
“Not surprised. Congrats 12,” Hill posted, while also including a photo from Nacua’s Orem days.
For a franchise that has witnessed Hall of Fame careers from Isaac Bruce, witnessed James Lofton, and watched Torry Holt and Kupp lead Super Bowl runs as deadly WRs, the Rams ended up drafting the rookie who immediately outperformed all of them in their rookie debuts. In the process, they discovered the next best wideout inside the “Rams House” through a new league record holder.
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