Last week, Minnesota Vikings fans celebrated the (likely) final games of C.J. Ham and Harrison Smith in the season finale. A player who missed out on that celebration was Adam Thielen, the longtime Vikings receiver. He announced his retirement.
Adam Thielen Calls It a Career
He declared in an Instagram story on Wednesday:
“What a ride it has been! 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 requested and was granted his release on December 1. The Vikings waived their long-time player and he was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Of course, the playoffs were out of reach for the Vikings and he wanted to chase a Lombardi Trophy.
Back then, the Vikings released a statement: “Adam’s representation recently approached the team and asked if we would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what he has indicated will be his final NFL season. Following discussions this weekend and out of respect for Adam, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue more playing time elsewhere. Adam is one of the all-time great Vikings, and we wish him and his family continued success.”
His time with the Steelers didn’t particularly turn into a success story, but he logged another postseason game after Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the division-winning kick in Week 18 and the Steelers advanced. In the playoff loss, Thielen caught two passes for 25 yards and in five regular-season games, he logged 11 receptions for 117 yards.
His second stint with the Vikings was brief and limited in production, with only eight catches and several drops.
After his release from the Vikings, he stated, “This is tremendously difficult for me to write and certainly not how any of us imagined this to go. As a Minnesota native, putting on this uniform over the years and representing this community both on and off the field has always meant that much more to me. This team is in my bones, it’s in my heart and it’s part of my DNA. I will ALWAYS be a Minnesota Viking.”
More memorable is his first stint in the Twin Cities, as well as his remarkable career path in the first place.
Thielen, from Detroit Lakes, MN, grew up rooting for the Vikings and wearing Randy Moss’ jersey. His college career took place at Mankato and he was not viewed as a draftable prospect. Ultimately, a regional combine opened the door for him to earn a try-out with his hometown Vikings in 2013, and he claimed a spot on the practice squad.
In 2014, Mike Zimmer arrived and gave Thielen a roster spot. He was primarily used as a special teamer for two seasons before his breakout 2016 season, in which he recorded 69 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns.
His big seasons were 2017 and 2018, as he was a Pro Bowler each time with 1,276 and 1,373 receiving yards and a total of 13 touchdowns. Suddenly, he was no longer wearing Moss’ jersey, but hunting his records.
Another evolution came in 2020, when he emerged as one of the league’s best red-zone receivers with 30 touchdown catches over the next three seasons.
After the 2022 season, the Vikings said “goodbye” for the first time when they released him. His contract numbers didn’t quite match the statistical milestone he generated on the field. Thielen spent two years with the Panthers before returning via trade ahead of the 2025 campaign.
The hometown kid played in 146 games with the Vikings, catching 542 passes for 6,751 yards and 55 touchdowns. He still ranks third in franchise history in receiving touchdowns. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the standing ovations Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham received in Week 18.
Thielen will eventually be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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