Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua
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Rams' wide receiver Puka Nacua is thrilled to continue playing with Matthew Stafford after he decided to put off retiring from the NFL
The Los Angeles Rams put together another strong campaign in 2025, but they fell just short of advancing to the Super Bowl. With guys like star wide receiver Puka Nacua leading the way, the Rams found their way to the NFC Championship Game, but they ended up getting eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks, who would go on to take down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Entering the offseason, Los Angeles knew that questions would swirl around quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s future, but he quickly put those rumors to bed by revealing that he’d be returning to the field next year shortly after winning the 2025 MVP Award. Unsurprisingly, Rams fans were thrilled with Stafford’s announcement, and it sounds like his retirement decision made nobody happier than Nacua.
Puka Nacua Weighs in on Matthew Stafford’s Return to the Rams
Nacua has spent the first three seasons of his career catching passes from Stafford, and he’s quickly transformed himself into arguably the best all-around wide receiver in the NFL. While there’s no doubt Nacua would remain productive even if Stafford wasn’t his quarterback, the connection these two possess makes them a lethal duo.
In 2025, Nacua turned in the best season of his career, as he led the league in receptions (129) despite missing a game along the way. Nacua also racked up 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping him earn the second Pro Bowl selection of his career, as well as his first All-Pro First Team honor, too.
Stafford opted to keep his retirement decision hidden until he won the 2025 MVP Award, but it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him announce that he would be returning to action in 2026. Despite that, Nacua didn’t want to assume anything when it came to Stafford’s future, but it’s clear he’s thrilled to get the opportunity to continue playing with the veteran quarterback.
“No, I wish I knew that he was going to come back, but it made it that much better,” Nacua said in an interview with RG.org when asked about Stafford. “I can only imagine the talks that he had with his wife, but then the ability for him to make that sacrifice again. It makes it even more exciting. You have a lot of motivation obviously with how the season went, to be ready for this next season. But knowing that we got our guy back, it’s gonna make things even more fun.”
Puka Nacua, Rams Looking to Go on Super Bowl Run in 2026
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams before the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
With Stafford and Nacua leading the way, Los Angeles should remain one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Even though opposing defenses know that Stafford is going to frequently look Nacua’s way, there’s only so much they can do to slow him down. And as he prepares to enter only his age-25 season, Nacua may only continue getting better.
On the other hand, Stafford just turned 38 years old earlier this month, so it’s clear that, while his career isn’t over yet, the end is drawing near. The Rams are built to win now, though, and Stafford has already proven he can lead this team to a championship. If the team can make the necessary improvements over the offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see L.A. make another deep playoff run in 2026.