Puka Nacua criticized NFL referees during a livestream, referring to them as “the worst”. He stated that some officials seem to make calls in hopes of appearing on television, likening them to celebrities:

“The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers. They want to be on TV too. You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you just saw me on Sunday Night Football. That wasn’t PI but I called it.’”

This comment echoes a common sentiment among players regarding officiating and the propensity for penalties to be called for dramatic effect.

Nacua was part of a stream hosted by Adin Ross, who has amassed over seven million followers on Twitch. Historically, the NFL has penalized players for voicing concerns about officiating; for example, last year, the league imposed hefty fines on Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes for their remarks after a game against the Bills. Moreover, recent penalties imposed on Will Anderson Jr. and Joe Mixon for their critiques were later appealed and reduced.