Longtime Minnesota Vikings star Adam Thielen has called it a career, and while he spent the final game of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, his home-state team has big plans for his future.
“What a ride it has been,” Thielen wrote on his Instagram story on January 14. “13 years what a blessing! Have been blessed with so many great relationships and mentors over the years that I am forever grateful for! Thank you to everyone who has supported me through the years it has meant everything to my family and I!”
Following Thielen’s message, the Vikings made their first commemoration of Thielen and what likely won’t be the last as the organization hinted at a larger celebration this year.
“What a remarkable career. Congratulations on your retirement,” the Vikings wrote on social media. “We can’t wait to celebrate it with you later this offseason.”
Vikings Fans Mixed Feelings on Adam Thielen Are Shortsighted
Many fans felt snakebitten when Thielen requested a trade from the Vikings midseason after the team’s playoff hopes were shot.
This is short-sighted.
Thielen spent a decade with the team through thick and thin. He restructured his contract in back-to-back seasons to help the team rebuild its roster during the down years of the Kirk Cousins era. Those restructures led to a contractual impasse that led to his initial release.
After Jordan Addison returned from suspension in Week 4, Thielen’s role in the offense became obsolete, playing just a handful snaps in his final weeks in Minnesota.
For what Thielen gave to the organization for many years, he deserves the chance to dictate the terms of the final year of his career.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Thielen wanted to make a greater contribution elsewhere to close his career. It hurts not playing, but not playing for a team whose season is lost? That’s martyrdom. Thielen wanted more opportunities to be on the field, and he found that in Pittsburgh.
He wanted to go out the same way he came in, playing football.
Adam Thielen’s Legacy
From Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Thielen climbed to the NFL through the grassroots of his home state.
Attending Minnesota State Mankato, Thielen redshirted his rookie year before compiling an illustrious career at the Division II school. He left Mankato second all-time in receptions (198), third in pass reception yards (2,802), third in receiving touchdowns (20).
Thielen paid $250 to attend the regional combine, met with the Carolina Panthers and Vikings before the draft, and ultimately took a rookie minicamp tryout in Minnesota.
The rest is well-known.
Thielen carved out as an illustrious career, one of the best by an undrafted prospect.
Per Vikings.com: “Here’s a rundown of where he ranks in his hometown Minnesota’s almanac: He’s second all-time in games played by a Vikings WR (146), behind Cris Carter; he’s third with 55 TD catches, trailing Carter and Moss; he’s fourth in receptions after Carter, Moss and Jefferson; he’s fifth to Carter, Moss, Jefferson and Anthony Carter in receiving yards; and he’s also fifth to that same foursome with 21 efforts of 100 yards.”
Thielen did the bulk of that work in his first stint with the Vikings (2014-22). He spent two seasons with the Panthers, where he became the oldest receiver in Panthers history to surpass 10 catches and 100 yards receiving in a single game. He also joined a cast of only 28 players who posted 1,000-yard seasons at age 33 or older for his performance in 2023.
Thielen landed back in Minnesota briefly this season by trade before he requested his release to close out his career with a chance to make the playoffs with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He caught two passes for 25 yards in the Steelers’ wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans.
Overall, Thielen closes his career with 704 catches, 8,497 receiving yards and 64 touchdown receptions as one of the best undrafted, underdog stories in NFL history.
Vikings Announce Big Adam Thielen Plans After Star’s Retirement