Puka Nacua recently took aim at Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. This provocation quickly drew a sharp retort from Ernest Jones IV, a former Rams linebacker now instrumental in Seattle’s championship defense.
Jones, who won his first Super Bowl as a rookie with the Rams in 2021 and earned a second title with Seattle this year, viewed Nacua’s remarks as fuel for his own outspoken critique of his former team.
Ernest Jones Reacts to Nacua’s Taunt on Social Media
During the NFC Championship Game, Puka Nacua posted a message on X featuring Sam Darnold’s name accompanied by a laughing emoji, seemingly mocking the Seahawks quarterback’s role. This sparked a strong reaction from Jones, who took to the platform after the Super Bowl and asked rhetorically,
“Ain’t you at home, Goofy a**,”
challenging Nacua’s disrespect.
Nacua had a notable individual performance in the NFC Championship, recording nine receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown, although he expressed regret over missed opportunities.
“Just opportunities that I missed. The third down opportunities, knowing that the ball’s coming, and we’re passing the ball, and the opportunity for us to make plays is right there, and not being able to come down with them,”
Nacua said after the game.
“All those moments kind of flash by in your head.”
He also issued an apology to the Rams’ defense, recognizing their effort in keeping the game competitive despite an offense that struggled to convert touchdowns early on.
“I felt like we could have executed in order to make that game easier for them.”
Jones Highlights Ongoing Frustrations with the Rams During the Season
Nacua’s provocative statements are not new—his blunt demeanor has previously sparked controversy. For Jones, however, Nacua’s remarks are just one facet of a broader dissatisfaction with the Rams’ attitude and performance this season.
The Seahawks dealt a pivotal blow to the Rams during the regular season, overcoming a 30-14 deficit in the final minutes to win in overtime on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Following that defeat, Jones openly criticized the Rams’ collapse and the team’s mindset.
“Laughin’, man. Crazy. It was disrespectful,”
Jones said according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune.
“There was too much time on the clock.”
Jones has not hidden his disappointment with how his tenure with the Rams ended. Yet, despite his criticisms, he shared a moment of respect by embracing head coach Sean McVay after leading Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Rams’ Jared Verse Reflects Honestly on Team’s Defeat
In the aftermath of the Rams’ loss, linebacker Jared Verse echoed similar sentiments about the team’s mentality, acknowledging that an overly confident approach hampered their chances. Verse described their young defense as assuming their playoff path was secured prematurely.
“I think it was our fault as a defense. Because we’re a younger defense, we have a lot of young dude, we felt like we earned everything. We felt like, ‘Oh, yeah. We got this like sealed.’ Like, all right, boom, we beat the Panthers. Boom. We beat Chicago. We’re like, ‘All right, Seattle next,’ and we all hyped up all week. We like, ‘Yeah, we going to beat them again. We know what we learned from last time,’”
Verse said on The Pivot podcast on February 6.
“When we start having trouble, early on they throw a big play, everybody just kind of s*** the bed. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, what do we do now? This isn’t going the way we thought it was going to go. They’re not laying down.’ And when that happened, everybody kind of started freaking out.”
Though the Rams eventually regained their composure, Verse blamed a youthful mindset for underestimating the Seahawks and misjudging the difficulty of the matchup. The lessons learned from this loss continue to resonate with him and his teammates.
Verse also made it clear he harbors a strong dislike for the Seahawks and their players, yet paradoxically predicted Seattle to win the Super Bowl based on their victory over the Rams.
Implications of the Rivalry and What Lies Ahead
The exchange between Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones and Puka Nacua highlights underlying tensions between these NFC contenders. Jones’ pointed replies underscore a competitive edge that fueled Seattle’s postseason success, while Nacua and fellow Rams players wrestle with lessons from their unexpected defeat.
This rivalry extends beyond a single game, reflecting deeper frustrations with mindset and execution on defense and offense alike. As both teams prepare for the next season, how they address these issues could determine their future trajectories in the NFL playoffs.
😂 sam darnold
— Puka Nacua (@AsapPuka) February 9, 2026
Ain’t you at home. Goofy ass https://t.co/1CFlOFvc9J
— Ernest Jones (@ernestjones) February 9, 2026
#Seahawks players locker room
talking postgame how Rams players were laughing at them when LA led 30-14 with 7 mins left. “Laughin’, man. Crazy. It was disrespectful,” Ernest Jones said. “There was too much time on the clock”Won’t name names. “They know.”
His thoughts now?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kiai6jHtUD— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 19, 2025
Ernest Jones emotions on 🔥
“I poured a lot into that program – to go out the way I did – I didn’t like it – but it is what it is – I’m glad I’m here with these guys…”
How about Sam Darnold?
“Ohhhh like I said, f**k you!”@nflnetwork @NFLGameDay #SeattleSeahawks #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/sXKAh7untF
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) January 26, 2026
Figured it got to their heads. All that bs fearsome foursome talk and how they got Sam Darnolds number just bc they sacked him 9 times when he was a viking bs. I hated that shit. Be humble https://t.co/jAoUEJT64U
— LPR42 (@TXRAMS42) February 8, 2026
I respect that he owned it, but this is pretty damning.
The Rams defense showed a lot of disrespect for the Seahawks before that game, and then mentally folded when it didn’t go their way.
This entitled mindset starts at the top. https://t.co/qfeGuCoR9Y
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) February 7, 2026
