Sean McVay was absolutely livid in his postgame press conference on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Rams<\/a> head coach learned in real time that his star wide receiver, who had just hauled in 12 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, had just tweeted again. It\u2019s unclear if McVay was angrier that Puka Nacua used his platform to bemoan the officials or that he was walking into the press conference completely naked.<\/p>\n Either way, he was peeved.<\/p>\n After their loss to Seattle, Sean McVay was asked about a deleted tweet from Puka Nacua in which he appeared to criticize the officials of the game. pic.twitter.com\/qyHmMj18Rr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n When a reporter asked McVay about Nacua\u2019s postgame tweet criticizing the officials, the coach had no idea what was happening.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t being coy. McVay genuinely didn\u2019t know. His eyes darted around the room, looking for an answer from someone, anyone on his staff who might clue him in.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you asking me right now?\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s when it hit him. His 24-year-old star receiver \u2014 already flirting with controversy earlier in the week \u2014 had hopped on X moments after an overtime loss and decided to fire off another sarcastic thank-you note to the officials.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you say i was wrong,\u201d Nacua wrote. \u201cAppreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.\u201d<\/p>\n Puka Nacua just tweeted this immediately after the game: pic.twitter.com\/RvfQgvla5E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n It was the third time this week Nacua had wandered into controversy, and while McVay initially looked blindsided, it quickly became clear he wasn\u2019t escaping it. The questions kept coming, and McVay ended up spending far more time addressing his receiver\u2019s behavior than the final minutes of a 38-37 overtime loss.<\/p>\n And to understand why McVay looked so worn down by the end of it, you have to understand just how much had piled up over the course of the week.<\/p>\n It started on Tuesday when Nacua appeared on a livestream<\/a> with internet personalities Adin Ross and N3on. During the stream, Ross suggested Nacua perform a specific touchdown celebration that involved rubbing his hands together \u2014 a gesture that perpetuates antisemitic stereotypes about Jewish people being greedy. Nacua agreed and demonstrated the move, saying he\u2019d do it during Thursday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n During that same livestream, Nacua also ripped into NFL officials, saying they\u2019re the worst and suggesting they make calls just to get camera time.<\/p>\n \u201cThese guys want to be on TV too,\u201d Nacua said. \u201cYou don\u2019t think he\u2019s texting his friends in the group chat like, \u2018Yo, you guys just saw me on Sunday Night Football.’\u201d<\/p>\n Hours before kickoff on Thursday, Nacua posted an apology on Instagram<\/a>, attempting to put out the fire before it ever reached the field.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I appeared the other day on a social media livestream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAt the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people. I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions, as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry, or hate of another group of people.\u201d<\/p>\n The NFL released a statement<\/a> condemning all forms of discrimination, noting that the rise in antisemitism must be addressed across the world. The Rams followed with their own statement<\/a>, stressing there is no place for antisemitism or prejudice of any kind.<\/p>\n So everyone had moved on, right? Not exactly.<\/p>\n Just two minutes after one of the most chaotic and entertaining games of the NFL season \u2014 a game in which Seattle erased a 16-point deficit and won on a two-point conversion in overtime \u2014 Nacua reached for his phone and fired off the tweet. The same tweet McVay had no idea existed until it was dropped on him mid\u2013press conference.<\/p>\n Nacua met with reporters afterward and tried to explain the tweet. He chalked it up to the heat of the moment after a devastating loss.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a moment of frustration after a tough, intense game like that,\u201d he said. \u201cJust thinking of the opportunities I could\u2019ve done better to take it out of their hands. Just a moment of frustration.\u201d<\/p>\n When pressed on whether he actually believed what he said on the livestream about officials making calls just to get on TV, Nacua admitted he didn\u2019t stand by those comments either.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d he later added. \u201cIt was just a lack of awareness and just some frustration.\u201d<\/p>\n Puka Nakua addresses the media on his postgame tweet and controversial livestream before the Rams\u2019 Thursday Night Football loss to the Seahawks. pic.twitter.com\/RXcm3OFQa2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s Nacua\u2019s explanation. Whether it\u2019s the last time McVay has to answer for it is something the Rams \u2014 and their head coach \u2014 will find out soon enough.<\/p>\n \t