'I Blew My Moment!': Los Angeles Rams Star Puka Nacua Recounts Awkward Meeting With Will Ferrell

The Los Angeles Rams rookie star isn't above awkward encounters with fellow celebrities.

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) after the / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to think of a player who rose from obscurity to stardom faster than Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua.

Once just a fifth-round pick out of BYU, Nacua entered the NFL last year with little to no expectations. The 22-year-old quickly established himself as an NFL star, as he caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season.

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) after the / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Over the past few months, Nacua has made several celebrity appearances outside the NFL, including at a recent Los Angeles Football Club game. It was there where he met actor Will Ferrell, who's also a part owner of LAFC, but he probably wishes he could've made a different first impression.

Nacua recounted the tale with Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby's podcast.

“I went to an LAFC game not too long ago and met Will Ferrell,” Nacua said. “I just watched that movie ‘Semi-Pro’ and I’m like, ‘I just watched one of your old movies.’ I’m blanking on it and I say, ‘Tropic Thunder’. He’s like, ‘Oh, I’m not in that.’ I’m like, ‘I know you’re not in that.’ He’s like, ‘What is it about?’ And I was like, ‘The basketball team! Flint!’ He’s like, ‘Oh, you mean Semi-Pro?’ I was so embarrassed. I blew my moment. It was so bad.”

There is a silver lining, though. According to Nacua, Ferrell's son then came up and said he's a big fan of the Rams star.

“But then his son came up and was like, ‘Puka, I’m a fan.’ And he saved it,” Nacua said.'

If his partial ownership of LAFC wasn't enough, Ferrell is a huge fan of L.A. sports teams. The Anchorman star is a University of Southern California alum and he is frequently spotted supporting the city's teams, especially the NHL's Los Angeles Kings.

Nacua may not have made the best first impression on Ferrell, but he'll likely get the chance to make up for that sooner or later.