Adam Thielen Spills the Beans
Minnesota Vikings legend Adam Thielen moved to Carolina in the 2023 offseason following the divorce between him and the love of his life, at least in the football world. He is no longer particularly explosive in generating separation, but he is still crafty and reliable in the underwhelming Panthers offense.
Adam Thielen Spills the Beans
When he next steps onto an NFL field in the regular season, he will be 35 years old, which can be considered ancient for a wide receiver, where explosiveness is a massive component of the game.
Therefore, unsurprisingly, retirement thoughts have started to be part of his offseason routine.
Minnesota’s own gave an interview a few days after the draft and revealed this might be his last year in the league, via Joe Person of The Athletic: “It could be, yeah. I mean, I told you guys that at the end of the season — like every year — you look back and you say, ‘What left do I have to give to this game?’ I’ve talked to my family, and they wanted me to keep playing, and so it will be the same process.”
Thielen spent the first ten NFL seasons with the Vikings, followed by 2023 and 2024 with the Panthers, and it was announced in March that he would play in 2025. He continued:
“Not going to think about that right now. I’m being the best football player that I can possibly be, and you have to have that mindset in this league. And then once the season’s over, evaluate, see where we’re at – see where the team’s at…and figure it out. But definitely winding down my career. But excited about this year and what could happen.”
The Panthers
Carolina is an intriguing team this offseason because they looked like a competitive team in the second half last season and followed that up by investing in free agency. Quarterback and former first overall pick Bryce Young also took a step forward late last season after he was benched for a while.
In the upcoming season, Thielen will continue to be their major mentor. With the 8th overall pick, the Panthers selected Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona’s standout wideout. They likely expect him to step into the WR1 role relatively early in his career. Last year’s first-rounder, Xavier Legette, could also be in line for more work in year two, and fellow 2024 rookie Jalen Coker showed some flashes.
Thielen’s numbers dipped to 48 catches for 615 yards and five scores. He appeared in only ten games. In his first season in the NFC South, Thielen eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yards and scored four times.
It has not been a pleasant chapter of his career in terms of winning, but they might be sneaky good in 2025. In February, Thielen said: “When you start to see that progression, I would hate to be part of building and then not be a part of the next step. So hopefully things keep progressing, and I can be a part of the end of the building process.”
His Vikings Chapter
Thielen’s story is well-documented, but here are the highlights. The wideout out of Detroit Lakes went undrafted in 2013, but his 4.45 40-yard dash turned some heads. His hometown Vikings invited him to a try-out and, of course, signed him to a contract. He was waived in 2013 but returned to the practice squad.
Under the new staff, including new head coach Mike Zimmer in 2014, Thielen made the cut and was part of the 53-man roster this time. He played in all 16 games in the first five seasons. At first, he was a special-teams ace with 137 yards and 144 yards receiving in 2014 and 2015.
In 2016, he exploded to 967 yards and five touchdowns. His most productive campaigns came in 2017 and 2018, combining for over 2,600 yards and 13 scores.
He then suffered a few injuries and lost a step later in his Vikings tenure. Ultimately, he was cut in 2023 and departed ranking third in all-time Vikings receiving touchdowns (55) and fourth in yards (6,682). Justin Jefferson has since surpassed him in yards.
Thielen will always be a Minnesota legend, who played for his childhood team and chased (and broke some of) the records of his idols, Cris Carter and Randy Moss.
The upcoming season might be his last. The Vikings are not scheduled to face the Panthers in 2025.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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