Puka Nacua was one of the few starters who played in the Los Angeles Rams’ regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers for a chance to make NFL history.
Entering the Week 18 matchup, Nacua needed just four receptions to break Jaylen Waddle’s NFL rookie record for receptions and 29 yards to break Bill Groman’s NFL rookie record for receiving yards.
Nacua broke both records early in the third quarter when he caught two passes. Making the moment all the more special was that his mother was in attendance for the game.
“That was super sweet. I saw my mom at the beginning of the game and we were able to have a moment. It was cool for her to be here in this environment,” Nacua said.
“I think the last time we were here, my older brother Kai was on the team, for the 49ers, not the Rams. It was kind of a moment that hit me earlier in the game and it was a full circle moment of experiencing it all and I’m glad my family was able to be here to experience it with me.”
Nacua was removed from the game after he set the records and finished his historic rookie season with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.
Nacua credited his teammates for helping him stay focused on the game and making history. “I guess trying to find it in the rhythm of the game and everybody feeling like it was as much there’s. It’ll say Puka Nacua, but I wish it could say everybody,” Nacua said of the accomplishment.
“All 11 guys out there because it really takes all 11. They should all feel that award just as much as I do because I couldn’t do it without the guys in the front and obviously [Rams QB] Matthew [Stafford] and [Rams QB] Carson [Wentz] out there.
“Everybody was involved – it was sweet to feel myself, but the enjoyment from everybody made it more sweet.”
As a fifth round pick, no one could have expected Nacua to have the season he had with the Rams, except maybe his mom, so it was awesome that she was there to enjoy the moment with him.
49ers’ Kyle Shanahan tried preventing Rams’ Puka Nacua from breaking rookie receiving records
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he wanted to make it difficult for Nacua to break the records. “Oh yeah. Our goal was to just keep him going the whole game,” Shanahan said.
“But we knew it was going to be tough. We knew he only needed one more catch and one more yard, but we tried our hardest,” Shanahan admitted.
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