The Rams drafted an ace receiver, Puka Nacua, in the 5th round (177th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. The scouts were so impressed that they even named him “the Deebo Samuel of the Mountain West.” The WR has lived up to this with his performances. In 2 seasons, he has played 28 games (all started) and recorded 184 receptions for 2,476 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. In 3 playoff games, he has 20 receptions for 322 receiving yards and 1 TD. But even the great player couldn’t resist the Gen-Z charms.
Nacua also saw dreams of working hard in his 20s, taking all the brutal hits from punishing defenders. But the Super Bowl champion (in his rookie year) also wants to live a good life after working so hard to earn the millions. So, it sent shockwaves through the football world when he announced his plan to retire. A few days ago, he said on the Join The Lobby podcast, “I want to retire at the age of 30.”
The Rams’ GM Les Snead talked to Kay Adams ahead of the NFL Annual Meeting on March 31. When she teased him about the WR’s retirement plans, the GM didn’t shy away. He hit the nail on the head and said, “Ah these – you know what? Gen Z is like rockstars now. You know? (They get) one hit and let’s retire.” His look showed disappointment yet his words dripped with wittiness.
Puka Nacua retiring at age 30?
Rams GM Les Snead reacts to the news and talks about Gen Z. @heykayadams | @rams pic.twitter.com/g52pkYPOOm
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 31, 2025
Nacua’s rookie contract is a 4-year, $4 million deal running through 2026. But he is only 23 years old. If everything goes as per his plan, Puka Nacua has 6 years to rake in the millions to splurge on his retirement. The receiver also touched on more reasons to retire. It includes having a big family, living a good life with his kids, and even opening a restaurant for his mother. The priorities are changing.
While the WR has been a weapon for the QB Matthew Stafford, he has become the target of critics. A few of them are calling him out for such opinions.
Puka Nacua criticized by analyst
NFL analyst Colin Cowherd aimed at the changing mindset on his show The Herd. He even claimed that the Rams’ GM Les Snead didn’t care about his work-life balance, despite being a husband and father himself. While he put more focus on the NFL atmosphere, another analyst attacked the receiver directly.
FOX Sports’ Craig Carton was fiery during his appearance on Breakfast Ball. He even asked the Rams management to get rid of Puka Nacua and said, “You’re 23 years old, and you’re already talking about when I want to retire? Playing professional football is a privilege, not a right. You should be grateful that you get to earn the money you make to play professional football. When you’re a 23-year-old kid and you’re talking about retirement? You can’t play for me.”
Credits: Imago
There’s a snowball’s chance in hell that the Rams will take that advice. They have already seen their star WR Cooper Kupp move on to the Seahawks and brought in Davante Adams to replace him. The only other trusted weapon Matthew Stafford has is the 2-year experience receiver. So, Puka Nacua is in a solid spot. But he still has to assert his position and build a legacy. The best way to do that is to win the Super Bowl (again).
The Rams are desperate for another Lombardi. They have qualified for the playoffs easily in the last 4 seasons, but won the Super Bowl only once. Can Puka Nacua retire with more rings and stories to tell?
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