Puka Nacua plans to hang up his cleats like Aaron Donald: 'I want to retire at the age of 30'
Puka Nacua already knows when he wants to retire.
It's not anytime soon, but it's probably a lot sooner than Rams fans might want to think about right now.
Asked during a recent podcast appearance how he might know when it's time to hang up his cleats, the 23-year-old star receiver did not hesitate in giving an answer.
“I know I want to retire at the age of 30," Nacua said on an episode of "Join the Lobby" that went live Saturday.
That's either six or seven seasons away, depending on when during the start of his fourth decade Nacua (born May 29, 2001) decides to call it a career.
Read more:Plaschke: Retiring Aaron Donald didn’t just lead the Rams, he was the Rams
Nacua cited former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald as his inspiration. Donald was a three-time defensive player of the year and made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his NFL seasons before retiring last offseason at age 32.
"I think of Aaron Donald," Nacua said. "To go out at the top, I think it would be super cool."
But Nacua said he has at least five other reasons.
"I want to have a big family," said Nacua, who is the second-youngest sibling in a family with four brothers and a sister. "I want to have at least a starting five. I came from a big family, so I need five boys. I want to be able to be a part of their lives and be as active as I can with them."
Selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, Nacua was an instant sensation, setting NFL rookie records for total receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) and earning a Pro Bowl berth. Last year, he was hampered by a right knee sprain that caused him to miss five games early in the season.
Read more:Matthew Stafford excited about Rams signing Davante Adams: 'A big addition to our team'
Nacua said he only wants to risk sustaining a major injury for so long before devoting his time to fatherhood and a post-football career that will possibly involve real estate and owning restaurants.
"The injuries are something you can’t control [as] part of the game, so you never know," he said. "Hopefully, the rest of the career can go healthy, but you have shoulder surgery, you have knee surgery, you have ankle [issues]. By the time my kids could be 18, I could be barely walking if you play the game and sustain all the injuries and stuff like that."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Rams WR Puka Nacua discusses retirement: 'I want to retire at the age of 30'
Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua is aiming to have a fruitful NFL career, but he isn't planning to play past age 30. Here's why.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Rams star WR Puka Nacua explains why he wants to retire from the NFL by the age of 30
Nacua would only have seven or eight seasons left in his career if he retired at 30CBS Sports - 1d -
Retirement plan: Rams' Nacua aims to quit at 30
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua wants to retire at 30. The 23-year-old said he'd like to follow a path similar to that of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, who retired at 33 after 10 years in the NFL.ESPN - 1d -
Rams WR Puka Nacua wants to retire by the time he's 30: 'I want to have a big family'
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