Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua opened up about entering a holistic rehabilitation facility and battling alcohol struggles during the darkest period of his life. In a pregame interview ahead of the season opener, the star player cited personal pressures, public fame, and conflict avoidance as catalysts for his offseason crisis.
Puka Nacua Details Alcohol Struggles and Rehabilitation Stint
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua addressed his offseason struggles with alcohol and therapy during a revealing interview with Elle Duncan for Netflix prior to the team’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Nacua, 25, acknowledged using alcohol as an escape mechanism to handle mounting stress and pressures in both his personal and professional life.
“Alcohol was definitely a thing for me. Just, kind of, drowning myself so that the issues and the stress that I was feeling never had the opportunity to be addressed.”
Nacua explained that he checked into a private, holistic rehabilitation facility in April following a turbulent offseason. The sudden transition from a fifth-round draft pick hoping to make the 53-man roster to a record-setting NFL star brought immediate fame, intense performance demands, and the responsibilities of co-parenting a 10-month-old son named Kingston.
Therapy helped him recognize underlying behavioral patterns, including a tendency to isolate himself and avoid conflict.
Offseason Controversies and Pending Legal Challenges
The wide receiver’s coping mechanisms collided with a series of off-field controversies and legal problems that accumulated during the break between seasons. In December 2025, just days before a crucial regular-season game against the Seattle Seahawks, Nacua unsuccessfully attempted to sneak streamers Adin Ross and N3on into the team facility without permission. He subsequently appeared on their live stream, where he criticized NFL referees and performed a touchdown dance carrying antisemitic undertones.
Nacua later issued an apology for the touchdown dance, stating he did not know its meaning when learning it on the live stream. Despite catching 12 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in that matchup—which the Rams lost 38-37 in overtime—he doubled down on his referee criticism on social media, resulting in a $25,000 fine from the league.
A few weeks later, Nacua allegedly bit a woman while intoxicated on New Year’s Eve, leading to an active civil lawsuit. His former girlfriend, Hallie Aiono, also publicly accused him of extreme betrayal, abuse, and complete neglect. When Nacua checked into the rehabilitation facility in April, his attorney, Levi McCathern, released a statement emphasizing that the player was taking responsibility for his well-being and performance.
“Puka takes responsibility for his well-being and increasing his performance during the offseason. … He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return in the best possible position — both personally and professionally — to continue contributing to his team and the game he loves.”
Contract Status and Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Nacua enters his fourth NFL season facing potential discipline from the league under the Personal Conduct Policy as he fulfills a diversion program in lieu of prosecution. His off-field troubles have also impacted his financial timeline. While other top receivers secure massive extensions—such as Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba signing a deal averaging more than $42 million per year in new money—Nacua enters the final year of his rookie contract making a base salary of $5.767 million.
On the field, Nacua remains one of the league’s most productive targets, coming off a campaign where he led the NFL with 129 receptions and finished second with 1,715 receiving yards. Having established a daily journaling habit and a new perspective following his time in rehab, Nacua expressed that his primary motivation is building a legacy his son can respect.
“These are the darkest times that I’ve had in my life, and as my son gets older, I can share with him some of the things I learned from the mistakes that I’ve made.”
He believes that by overcoming these personal challenges, he can provide his son with a meaningful example of resilience and growth throughout his professional career.
