After watching the Los Angeles Rams pull off a huge, hard-fought upset win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, I was reminded once again of the adeptness of Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who finished the game with 12 receptions, 178 combined receiving and rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, including one reception made by way of a body-contorting, Moonwalker-lean that would’ve made Michael Jackson jealous.
Puka Nacua, you are an absolute maniac. So insanely good in so many different ways. pic.twitter.com/wBDZfEuPOc
— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) December 8, 2024
Although he missed five games earlier in the season due to a knee injury, Puka has been back with a vengeance since his return in Week 8. Not only is Nacua an excellent route-runner, he’s also — a notion which his toe-tap reception in the game against the Bills reinforced — one of the purest pass catchers in the league. On top of it all, Nacua is a receiver who isn’t afraid of contact after a catch — whether it be taking a hit or administering a hit on his defenders.
It’s all of these factors which have attributed to and culminated in Puka’s utterly befitting nickname: War Daddy.
But how is that Puka Nacua got his “War Daddy” nickname?
Puka has Rams head coach Sean McVay to thank for that. Following the Rams 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Nacua’s Week 8 return, a game in which Nacua caught seven of nine targets for 106 yards, McVay expressed how happy he was to have the second-year receiver back on the field, in particular extolling Nacua’s fortitude and grit.
“[Nacua] said, ‘I don’t know, I’m feeling pretty good,’” McVay told ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “He went and had a workout session where he ran routes and did a great job. His movement looked good. I talked to him, and I said, ‘Do you want to try to give this thing a shot?’ And he said yes.”
“And this guy’s mindset, his mentality … he’s a war daddy, he’s a stud… I love his play energy and what he brings. He was ready to go tonight, and he made a big impact on the game.”
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Puka Nacua. War Daddy.
What do you think of the origin behind how Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua got his “War Daddy” nickname? Let us know in the comments.
