Puka Nacua

Early life

Nacua was born on May 29, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada. His mother is of Samoan and German descent, and his father was of Hawaiian and Portuguese descent. Nacua acquired the nickname "Puka", meaning fat and chubby in Samoan, due to his size as a baby. Nacua grew up in Provo, Utah, and attended Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He finished his high school career with 260 receptions for 5,226 yards and 58 touchdowns, all of which are Utah state records. Nacua was named the Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year in 2018.

University of Washington

Nacua began his college career at Washington. He played in the first eight games of his freshman season and caught seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a broken foot. Nacua had nine receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown in three games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Following the end of the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Brigham Young University

Nacua transferred to BYU prior to the 2021 season. In his first season with the Cougars, he caught 43 passes for 805 yards and six touchdowns. He had four games going over the 100-yard mark in the 2021 season. In a 38–24 loss to Baylor played on October 16, 2021, Nacua had five receptions for a college career-best 168 yards with a touchdown. He also caught a pair of touchdowns in BYU's 34–17 win over Georgia Southern.

On October 15, 2022, against Arkansas, he had eight receptions for 141 yards and a receiving touchdown to go with two rushing touchdowns. On November 5, in a victory over Boise State, he had 14 receptions (the most in any single game of his college career) for 157 yards and two touchdowns including the game-winning touchdown on fourth and goal to put BYU in front 31–28 with 32 seconds left.

Nacua finished the 2022 season with 48 receptions for 625 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. During his two seasons at BYU, Nacua totaled 91 receptions for 1,430 yards with 11 touchdowns and ran the ball 39 times for 357 yards (an average of 9.2 yards per rush) and scored five TDs on the ground.

Personal life

Nacua has one son, who was born in October 2025, with his college girlfriend, Hallie.

Nacua's older brother Samson plays wide receiver with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League, and transferred from the University of Utah to BYU at the same time Puka transferred from Washington. Samson went undrafted and spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and the UFL's Pittsburgh Maulers. Another older brother, Kai Nacua, plays safety for the UFL's Michigan Panthers after playing in the NFL.

Nacua's father, Lionel, died from complications of diabetes when Nacua was 11. His older cousin, Marist Liufau, is a linebacker who plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

While growing up in Las Vegas, Nacua played Pop Warner football with Dana White III, son of UFC CEO and president Dana White.

Business interests

On April 25, 2024, Nacua signed a multi-year footwear and apparel deal with Jordan Brand.

On August 28, 2024, Nacua was announced as one of seven NFL players that Little Caesars would have individual partnerships with, that would include personal endorsements and other promotional appearances.

On September 4, 2024, Nacua signed an endorsement deal with Gatorade, along with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and flag football player Diana Flores.

In December 2025, Experian began airing a new national "Big Financial Friend" ad campaign that featured Nacua and 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, emphasizing their real-life friendship as well as being football rivals.