Few players have experienced a meteoric rise to fame as swift as Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. Originally drafted in the fifth round from BYU, Nacua entered the NFL with minimal expectations last year. However, the 22-year-old quickly emerged as a standout star, tallying an impressive 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season.

In recent months, Nacua has ventured beyond the NFL spotlight, making appearances at various celebrity events, including a recent Los Angeles Football Club game. It was during this event that he had a memorable encounter with actor Will Ferrell, who happens to be a part owner of LAFC. However, Nacua might wish he had left a different first impression.

Nacua shared the amusing anecdote on Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby’s podcast, recounting the awkward exchange with Ferrell. “I went to an LAFC game not too long ago and met Will Ferrell,” Nacua recalled. “I had just watched the movie ‘Semi-Pro,’ and I told him, ‘I just watched one of your old movies.’ I blanked on the title and said, ‘Tropic Thunder.’ He responded, ‘Oh, I’m not in that.’ I then realized my mistake and corrected myself, mentioning ‘Semi-Pro.’ I was so embarrassed. I missed my chance. It was so cringe-worthy.”

However, there was a silver lining to the encounter. Nacua mentioned that Ferrell’s son approached him afterward and expressed admiration, saying, “Puka, I’m a fan.” This moment helped salvage the situation for Nacua.

Despite the initial faux pas, Ferrell’s partial ownership of LAFC and his avid support for Los Angeles sports teams, including his alma mater USC and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, indicate that Nacua may have further opportunities to make a positive impression on the comedic actor.