Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua could follow in the footsteps of one of his former teammates, Cooper Kupp, now of the Seattle Seahawks, whom he will face off against in this year’s NFC Championship Game.
Nacua has been one of the most dominant receivers since entering the league as a fifth-round pick, taken 177th overall by the Rams in 2023.
The two-time Pro Bowler is still only scratching the surface.
Puka Nacua Gets Good News Before Rams Face Seahawks
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams on the field after a win over the New Orleans Saints.
The NFL announced on January 22 that Nacua is one of five finalists for Offensive Player of the Year, with Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers), Drake Maye (New England Patriots), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) joining the Rams star.
“Dominant. Fearless. Playmaker,” the Rams posted on X on January 22. “Puka Nacua is an OPOY Finalist! [clapping hands emoji]”
The Rams also captioned a highlight reel “Playin’ his best ball yet” and a triumphant emoji.
Nacua recorded a league-leading and career-high 129 receptions during the regular season, while also setting personal high marks with 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2025 regular season.
He led the league with 80 receptions that gained enough yardage for first downs and 107.2 receiving yards per game.
Nacua’s 95.3 YPG for his career are the most in NFL history among qualifiers.
Nacua is second in receiving yards and fourth in receptions since he entered the league and is tied for the 10th-most TD catches. That is despite missing seven games over the past two regular seasons, six of which came during the 2024 campaign.
That Nacua was able to produce as he did this season, despite the Rams’ adding Davante Adams, speaks volumes about the former’s playmaking ability.
Kupp is the most recent of the Rams’ five OPOY wins, taking home the award in 2021.
The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl that season, which was also quarterback Matthew Stafford’s first in LA. This past offseason, the Rams released Kupp, a Yakima, Washington native who signed with his near-home-town team, the Seahawks, in free agency.
In addition to Kupp, Nacua would join Rams legend Todd Gurley (2017) and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (1999, 2000, and 2001) and Eric Dickerson (1986)
NFL Sets Stage for Puka Nacua
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nacua posted a 19-300-2 line on 24 targets in two games against the Seahawks during the 2025 regular season. Fittingly, the league is using Nacua to help promote the NFC Championship Game.
“Highlight reel machines [fire emoji],” the NFL posted on X, including graphics featuring Nacua and Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, had a 17-201-1 line on 25 looks versus the Rams.
Nacua and the Rams split their matchups against the Seahawks during the regular season. They lost in Seattle, where the NFC Championship Game is. The Rams were barely above .500 on the road during the season at 5-4, while the Seahawks went 6-2 at home.
Nacua is surely appreciative of the honor. However, he and the Rams have their eyes on the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are the next obstacle in their path.
Rams’ Puka Nacua Gets Notice From NFL Before NFC Championship Game