Puka Nacua, an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, is one of six siblings and has a fierce love for them.
All of the Nacua brothers played football for Brigham Young University, and their only sister played basketball at Liberty High School.
Puka Nacua is the second youngest of six children born to Penina and Lionel Nacua. He has four brothers, Kai, Isaiah, Samson, and Tei, and one sister, Chanel.
Lionel trained his sons in football and instilled a deep passion for the game, building an incredible legacy.
Sadly, Lionel passed away from complications of diabetes in May 2012 when Puka was just 11 years old. However, the fire for football that Lionel lit in his son never dimmed.
Penina, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held the family together.
My husband loved defense, he loved having his boys hitting each other. He would have everybody suiting up and putting on the shoulder pads, and he’d make them go head-on, one-on-one.
Penina Nacua
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Chanel Nacua is the Quiet Force Behind Puka’s No. 12
Puka Nacua’s older sister, Chanel Nacua, is the quiet cornerstone of their close-knit family, while the NFL Star makes headlines on the field.
She is the eldest child and only daughter of Penina and Lionel Nacua.
Chanel leads a private life centered on family.
She is a proud mother to her daughter, Coco Laulile, and enjoys a simple life with her boyfriend.
Her love for sports runs in the family. She played basketball at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, before graduating in 2012.
Though she stays out of the spotlight, her influence on her famous brothers is unmistakable.
In fact, Chanel inspired a family tradition of the No. 12 jersey.
Puka has said that one reason he switched his jersey number to 12 in 2025 was to honor Chanel, who wore it first. Likewise, Samson and Kai also followed her lead by wearing the number in their own athletic careers.
Chanel may avoid public attention, but she is always cheering from the sidelines.
She, her boyfriend, and Coco were among the excited family members gathered at their mother’s home in Provo, Utah, to celebrate Puka’s very first NFL touchdown.
We literally jumped off the couch, we were screaming, and we were just crying because watching Puka on TV and seeing him in his element and scoring that last touchdown to win the game, that was just the sweetest moment to see.
Penina Nacua
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Puka Nacua’s Brothers are More Then Just his Family
Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua’s success is rooted in a family legacy of football talent and brotherhood.
The Nacua brothers have each carved their own impressive paths in the sport.
Kaimana “Kai” Kenneth Nacua, the oldest, set the standard.
He was a versatile athlete from Liberty High School and played defensive back at BYU. His athletic journey took him through the NFL with several teams from 2017 to 2022.
He continues in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers, where he became teammates with his younger brother, Samson.
Isaiah Nacua, the second-oldest, also played at the collegiate level.
After a stint as a defensive lineman for BYU, he chose to depart the program to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Even though we’re LDS [members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], none of us really liked Utah. Isaiah and Kai really didn’t like the state growing up, but I felt strongly it’s where we needed to be.
Penina Nacua
Samson Lionel Nacua made his mark first at the University of Utah, leading the team in touchdowns in 2018 and 2019. He finished his college career at BYU.
His NFL journey was brief with the Indianapolis Colts, but he now plays professionally for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL.
The football legacy continues with the youngest, Tei Nacua.
He was a standout wide receiver who helped Timpview High win a state title and the No. 20 overall recruit in Utah. In 2023, he committed to BYU, following directly in his brothers’ footsteps.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- 25-year-old Makea “Puka” Nacua was born on May 29, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- His Samoan heritage gave him his unique nickname, “Puka,” which means “fat and chubby.”
- He has a son, Kingston, with his longtime girlfriend, Hallie Aiono.
