Puka Nacua plays football with a lot of emotion, in part because the game reminds him of his father, whom he lost at a young age.
Lionel Nacua died from diabetes complications when Nacua was just 11 years old.
Nacua recently spoke with The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue about how he’s learning to harness his emotions and keep them under control during games.
Why Puka Nacua cries during the national anthem
It’s not unusual for Nacua, the second-year Los Angeles Rams receiver, to be fired up and scream after making a big catch, but Rodrigue’s article explains that his emotions start before the opening kickoff.
Earlier this season, a video of Nacua crying during the national anthem circulated on social media.
It was revealed in the video, which was taken from a Rams’ game broadcast, that during the anthem, Nacua thinks about his father, who died when the receiver was young.
It was his father’s dream for Nacua to play football, as the Deseret News previously reported.
How Puka Nacua’s emotions affect his pre-game routine
As a rookie, Nacua often wasn’t with the wide receivers group during pre-game workouts.
Instead, he “would maybe take one rep or two with the group before heading to the goal posts to collect his thoughts, or play catch with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur,” according to The Athletic.
Then-Rams offensive assistant Jake Peetz learned about Nacua’s loss and how it still affected him.
Peetz, who lost his brother suddenly in 2014, was understanding and let other coaches know that Nacua needed his space to process those thoughts and emotions before a game, including after the anthem.
“(Peetz) noticed that after the national anthem is a moment that I take to say a quick prayer, to gather (my) emotions as best as I can,” Nacua told The Athletic. “Then he would always be the first person (I would) turn around (to) and we’d exchange a big hug before going out there. Just kind of a moment of peace (with) somebody who has similar emotions and being like, ‘man, we want to send it out in the right direction’ and to play for something beyond yourself.”
How Puka Nacua has learned to harness his emotions during games
Nacua has started using breathing exercises and affirmations to help him focus. He’s also trying not to be “a mouth-breather especially during games” and to not focus on his fatigue, he told The Athletic.
“If I’m in the huddle … I’m normally bent over — because I am tired — but if I can just get one good deep breath in my nose, then I can feel my heart beating. I’m trying to just become a little more aware of that moment. ‘I’m in the right place. I am aware of the things going on. I have practiced this before.’”
Once he does that, he said his “emotions can be in the right place. I’m like, ‘all right, I’m ready to run fast now.’”
Nacua and the Rams have clinched a spot in the playoffs. The team will play its regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
But Nacua might not see the field if head coach Sean McVay rests the team’s starters.
McVay announced Wednesday that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would start in place of Matthew Stafford, but he didn’t reveal which other starters won’t play Sunday.