This offseason has taken an unexpected turn for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. His long-term extension stalled after several off-field incidents, including a controversial Adin Ross livestream in December 2025, a civil lawsuit alleging assault, and a voluntary rehab stay.
Amid that uncertainty, Nacua recently showed a more relaxed side of his life during an appearance on the “IMPAULSIVE” podcast.
Puka Nacua Opens Up on How His Life in L.A. Is Influencing His Footballing Life
While discussing life in Los Angeles, he explained why living in the San Fernando Valley helps him avoid some of the city’s nonstop attention.
“I feel like being in the valley, I’m like, luckily we’re not in West Hollywood,'” he said. “Like, we’re not in the downtown. So, like, it’s not too crazy.”
That distance also gives Nacua a different perspective on life as an NFL star in Los Angeles.
According to the wide receiver, the city has so many celebrities and major events that even a huge Sunday can quickly fade from the spotlight.
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“But I think that’s the nice thing where it’s like we can go out and have the best game on Sunday. You go out and score two touchdowns, go and beat the Buffalo Bills or whoever…” Nacua explained. “It’s like Monday morning, Kim Kardashian or Leonardo DiCaprio can say something, and it’s like, ‘Oh, everybody forgot really about what we did,’ so it’s like that, like, there’s so much else going on in L.A., where i’s like you could do whatever you want.”
Nacua arrived in Southern California after the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of BYU. Since then, he has settled in the San Fernando Valley, which he has described as a more grounded, low-key part of Los Angeles.
Talking about the football side, Nacua now enters his fourth NFL season after quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s most productive wide receivers.
He set the rookie receiving yards record in his first season. And in 2025, he led the NFL in receptions while ranking second in receiving yards.
Through 44 games, Nacua has already recorded 313 catches for 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns.
PFN’s WR Impact Metric rated Nacua as the league’s top wideout last season, giving him an impressive 96.3 impact score. That production has also pushed him into elite company. On PFN’s Top 100 players’ list for the upcoming season, Nacua ranked as the fifth-best player in the NFL.
Still, his future in Los Angeles remains a key storyline.
When recently asked whether he wanted to stay with the Rams, Nacua made his position clear, saying, “That’s the plan.”
Since completing his rehab program and speaking publicly during OTAs in late May, he has avoided further headlines for the wrong reasons. Now, a good training camp could help the Rams regain confidence in their star receiver.
