Puka Nacua is only in his sophomore season, yet he has already emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had a historic first season, breaking the NFL’s rookie record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486).
With Nacua becoming a star and emerging as a household name, there’s significantly more interest in his background. Let’s examine Nacua’s ethnicity and family.
Puka Nacua’s Family and Ethnicity
Nacua is of Samoan, Portuguese, and native Hawaiian descent. Nacua is proud of his Samoan background, which he often displays on his Instagram.
“Puka’s grandmother immigrated to the U.S. from West Samoa with her only daughter, Penina,” according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
Puka’s father, Lionel, passed away due to diabetes when he was just 10 years old, so his mother, Penina, was tasked with raising six children, five boys and one girl, as a single mother.
Nacua’s birth name is Makea, but his nickname “Puka” means fat and chubby in Samoan. You’d never know that from looking at his chiseled 6’2″, 212-pound frame these days.
While at Orem High, Nacua was named Utah’s “Mr. Football.” He also earned an invite to play in the Polynesian Bowl, which is played in Honolulu, Hawaii, and features many of the top-ranked high school seniors of Polynesian descent (and some prospects who aren’t of Polynesian ancestry).
During the 2019 Polynesian Bowl, Nacua caught six passes for 93 yards and a tip-toe 29-yard touchdown grab in the game for Team Makai.
Nacua was named Offensive MVP and Co-Player of the Year at the event, which also included Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams, Indianapolis Colts EDGE Laiatu Latu, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Trey Palmer among others.
Nacua played at Washington before transferring to BYU so he could be closer to his mother and grandmother, who was dealing with some health complications.
Nacua isn’t the only football player in his family, though. Puka’s brothers, Kai, Isaiah, and Samson, all played college football and then had stints in the NFL too.
Rams vs. Eagles Game Preview
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Time: 3 PM ET
- Channel – NBC
The winner of this game will play the winner of the other NFC Divisional round game between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. Whichever team holds the better regular season record will play host to the Conference Championship.
The Eagles started September off with some hiccups, going into their week 5 bye with a 2-2 record. However, they reeled off a 10-game winning streak on the other end, securing the NFC East division title with weeks to spare.
Since 2000, the average Super Bowl participant allowed a first down on 37.4% of third downs and a touchdown on 52.3% of red-zone trips during the regular season. The Eagles and Lions are the only two remaining NFC teams meeting both these benchmarks.
Philadelphia’s defense has been a consistent strength this season, with an average Defense+ grade of 79.9. The Eagles are an undefeated 14-0 when their Defense+ grade reaches 75 or higher, including an 81.8 mark in last week’s win over the Packers.
The Eagles’ running game has also taken a significant leap forward this year, led by Saquon Barkley. Philadelphia’s running backs are averaging 17.5% more yards per carry after first contact, compared to last season.
The Rams have played four games against playoff teams since their Week 6 bye — they’ve scored an average of 30.3 points in those games.
But on the darker side, the Rams had a -1.12 average point differential during the regular season. In the 21st century, the 2011 Giants are the only team to advance to championship weekend after posting a negative point differential during the regular season.
However, a close game won’t scare the Rams. They had 15 games this season decided by 10 or fewer points, the most in the league. This holds the same for the Eagles, who hold a 7-1 record in clutch games in 2024.
Based on 10,000 simulations run by the PFN Playoff Predictor, the Eagles have a 63.2% win probability heading into the game.
