New Orleans Saints wide receiver Samson Nacua catches a pass during the eleventh day of training camp practice at Crawford Field at University of California, Irvine, Calif., Monday, Aug. 5, 2024.
(Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune) Samson Nacua’s resumé from the last few years includes stints working at an Italian restaurant in Utah, at a buddy’s warehouse and some jobs in flooring and construction. And maybe the next entry will be NFL wide receiver. Nearly two years passed between Nacua’s first NFL opportunity, as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and his next, when he signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this month.
In that time, he found temporary work to occupy him; not only in restaurants and construction sites, but in the USFL and UFL. He found time to train toward his still flickering dream. He made time to drive to interesting places and meet interesting people and soak up life.
And, as hard as this might have been for an older brother to admit, he also found inspiration: His younger brother, Puka Nacua, took the NFL by storm in a record-breaking rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams. Expectations were modest for Puka, a fifth-round draft pick out of BYU. He put a torch to projections of what he could be and made everyone see him for what he is with 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards — both NFL rookie records.
Seeing that happen lit something in Samson. “You put in the work, the cream will rise to the top,�.