Tag: Thielen

WR Adam Thielen retires: ‘What a ride it has been!’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen announced his retirement Wednesday after 12 NFL seasons.

Thielen, 35, spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed a second stint with the club in 2025 after two seasons with the Carolina Panthers before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 2.

Thielen’s season officially came to an end on Monday after the Steelers dropped a 30-6 decision to the Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card game.

“What a ride it has been!” Thielen wrote on Instagram. “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!”

Thielen became a Steeler one day after being granted his request by the Vikings to be waived to pursue more playing time in his final NFL season.

He finished with 19 catches for 186 yards in 16 games (seven starts) this season with Minnesota and Pittsburgh.

Thielen played collegiately at Minnesota State before signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He was released by the Vikings to save salary cap space in March 2023 and signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers. Carolina traded him to Minnesota on Aug. 27.

Thielen made his NFL debut in 2014 and totaled 704 receptions for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns in 178 regular-season games (135 starts).

–Field Level Media

Jul 26, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) runs after a catch during practice at training camp. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Vikings trade picks to reunite with Panthers WR Adam Thielen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota parted with two draft picks to reunite with Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen on Wednesday.

The Panthers will receive a 2026 fifth-round draft pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick in the deal, with the Vikings receiving a seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-rounder in 2027.

The Vikings announced the trade on social media, writing “BACK WHERE HE BELONGS!!”

A possession receiver, Thielen began his career as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and played in games with Minnesota from 2014-22.

Wide receiver became a pressing need for Minnesota during training camp.

Jordan Addison was handed a three-game suspension stemming from a 2024 DUI citation, Justin Jefferson (hamstring) and Jalen Nailor (hand) are slowed by injuries, and Rondale Moore was lost for the season due to a left knee injury.

Minnesota begins its season Sept. 8 in the opening “Monday Night Football” at NFC North-rival Chicago.

Thielen, 35, missed seven games last season after sustaining a hamstring injury while laying out to reel in a 31-yard touchdown reception in the Panthers’ 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22.

He finished with 48 catches on 62 targets for 615 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games (all starts) during his second season with the Panthers.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 685 receptions for 8,311 yards and 64 touchdowns in 162 regular-season games (128 starts).

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receivers Adam Thielen (19) and Diontae Johnson (5) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Panthers rule out WRs Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bryce Young will be minus two top targets when he gets back under center for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

On Friday, receivers Diontae Johnson (rib) and Adam Thielen (hamstring) were ruled out for the Week 8 game at Denver.

Quarterback Andy Dalton, who started the past five games after replacing Young, is listed as doubtful against the Broncos due to a sprained right thumb sustained in a car accident on Tuesday.

Johnson, 28, leads the Panthers (1-6) in receptions (30), targets (58), receiving yards (357) and receiving touchdowns (three).

Thielen, 34, will miss his fifth straight game. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has eight catches for 109 yards and one TD.

Young’s available wide receivers against the Broncos (4-3) include rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker along with David Moore and Jonathan Mingo.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers sign former Vikings WR Adam Thielen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers signed free agent wide receiver Adam Thielen on Sunday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 32-year-old veteran had spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, his home-state team where he signed as an undrafted free agent before the 2014 campaign.

Thielen became a two-time Pro Bowler and has career totals of 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns (plus one rushing touchdown) in 135 games (101 starts). Only Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss caught more passes in a Vikings uniform than Thielen.

In 2022, Thielen started all 17 games and finished with 70 catches, 716 yards and six TDs.

The Vikings released Thielen March 10 in a cost-cutting move. He signed a four-year, $64 million extension in April 2019, and the sides agreed to restructure the deal in 2021 and 2022. Minnesota saved $6.4 million against the 2023 salary cap while taking a dead-cap hit of $13.6 million.

The Panthers needed to add an experienced receiver after trading their former No. 1 wideout, DJ Moore, to the Chicago Bears this month in the deal for the No. 1 overall draft pick of the 2023 draft.

–Field Level Media