Puka Nacua Attributes Chiefs' Struggles to Taylor Swift's Influence
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has stirred the pot with his recent comments regarding Taylor Swift, attributing the Kansas City Chiefs' disappointing season to what he calls the "Swift curse."
During a Twitch stream with Adin Ross and N30n on December 16, Nacua, 24, expressed his bewilderment over the Chiefs' performance. “It’s got to be the Swift curse,” he remarked, referencing the pop star's relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “After they ran out of the little bit of juice.”
The Chiefs had enjoyed a successful run since Swift and Kelce began dating in 2023, culminating in a Super Bowl LVIII victory and a return to the championship game the following year. However, their fortunes took a nosedive in 2025, finishing with a 6-8 record, including seven narrow losses by just one score. Their playoff hopes were dashed on December 14 after a close loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-13.
Compounding their woes, quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in the final minutes of that game, casting doubt on his availability for the start of the 2026 season. The Chiefs confirmed on December 16 that Mahomes, 30, had undergone surgery and was beginning rehabilitation.
Nacua's Twitch appearance has generated significant buzz, leading to an NFL fine of $25,000 for his remarks about officiating. “The refs are the worst. These guys are lawyers; they wanna be on TV too bro,” he stated during the stream, implying that officials might make calls for attention rather than accuracy.
Following the Rams' loss to the Seattle Seahawks on December 18, Nacua took to X to further address the officiating. “Can you say I was wrong,” he quipped. “Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. lol.” However, he later deleted the post and described his comments as stemming from “a moment of frustration.”
In a reflective moment, he acknowledged the challenges of officiating in football. “I know there were moments where I feel like, man, you watch the other games and you think of the calls that some guys get and you wish you could get some of those,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to improving his technique to avoid issues with calls.
This week has not been without controversy for Nacua. He also issued an apology for making an antisemitic gesture during the live stream and for suggesting he would repeat it as a touchdown celebration. “I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people,” he wrote on Instagram. “I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”
