Puka Nacua was emotional after the Los Angeles Rams suffered a painful loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. The All-Pro wide receiver had a huge game with two touchdowns, but it was not enough as the Rams fell 38–37 in overtime. Minutes after the final whistle, Puka Nacua took his frustration to social media and aimed it at the referees. The post did not stay up for long, but fans had already seen it. The moment stood out because it came just two days after Puka Nacua had already criticized NFL officials during a live stream. Now, his comments could bring league attention.
Puka Nacua reacts after Rams’ overtime loss to Seahawks
Puka Nacua played one of his best games of the season against Seattle. He caught two touchdown passes and helped the Rams stay in control for most of the night. Still, the Seahawks rallied late and won in overtime, handing Los Angeles a tough divisional loss.
Soon after the game ended on Thursday, Puka Nacua posted a message on X that appeared to take a shot at the referees.
The wide receiver wrote, “Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.” The post was later deleted, but screenshots quickly spread online.
The loss dropped the Rams to an 11–4 record for the season. The Seattle Seahawks improved to 12–3 and strengthened their place in the NFC standings.
While fans debated calls from the game, the league keeps a close watch on public criticism of officials.
The NFL has strict rules when it comes to players speaking about referees. Fines are common, especially when comments are made right after games.
Puka Nacua blamed the referees for the Rams loss in a now deleted post 💀 pic.twitter.com/sKCsKLhAIn
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) December 19, 2025
Puka Nacua explains frustration after earlier referee criticism
Puka Nacua’s post came just two days after he spoke openly about referees during a live stream with Adin Ross. During that stream, Nacua did not hold back.
“The refs are the worst,” Puka Nacua said. He added that some officials want attention and joked about referees enjoying TV time. His comments made headlines earlier in the week and set the stage for Thursday’s reaction.
After the Seahawks game, Puka Nacua tried to cool things down. In a post-game interview, he explained that the message came from frustration, not anger.
“Just a moment of frustration,” Puka Nacua said. “Some of the moments that we put in the officials’ hands just felt like we could have executed better to not be in those situations.”
As of now, the NFL has not announced any punishment. However, given the league’s history, many expect the situation to be reviewed in the coming days.
