Adam Thielen’s remarkable career with the Minnesota Vikings came to a surprise conclusion on Monday. The team then took the stunning step of deciding to waive him. This decision followed a dismal showing. Thielen did not suit up for the Vikings’ 26-0 loss against the Seattle Seahawks and was a healthy scratch that game.
Thielen, a native of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, carved out quite the career in his 12 NFL seasons. He finished with 693 receptions for 8,380 yards and 64 touchdowns. This performance places him third in career touchdown receptions, fourth in career receptions, and fifth in career receiving yards all-time for the Vikings. Notably, he amassed 542 receptions during his tenure with the Vikings, trailing only Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Justin Jefferson in franchise history.
In his last two seasons with Minnesota, Thielen proved he still had it on the grass. In 2023, he’s been having a career year playing for the Carolina Panthers. He hauled in 1,014 yards on 103 catches! He proved his loyalty to the Vikings by taking a $2 million pay reduction in 2023. This ruling cut his payment from about $7 million to $5 million. Thielen indeed battled to come back to his home state, but he ended up playing just three snaps in his final game with the Vikings against the Green Bay Packers. By the end of the season, he finished with only eight receptions for 69 yards in 11 games.
On August 27th of last year, the Vikings traded Thielen. In exchange, they sent the Panthers a fifth-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2027 to procure his services. The team’s head coach, Kevin O’Connell, noted, “We’ve had pretty remarkable health in that receiving room this year,” which may have contributed to Thielen’s limited playing time.
Thielen said he was disappointed at the way his tenure with the team came to an end. “This is certainly not how any of us imagined it would go,” he remarked. In his announcement, he made it clear how deep his connection to the franchise runs. As a Minnesota native, he noted, “Wearing this uniform, representing this community on and off the field, has always meant so much to me. This team is in my bones. It’s inside of me, it’s in my heart—it’s in my DNA. I will ALWAYS be a Minnesota Viking.”
Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah called Thielen “one of the all-time great Vikings” in Thielen’s wake. He wished Thielen and his family the best in all their future endeavors.
Looking ahead, Thielen revealed his intention to play one final season in 2025 and hopes to find a new team where he can “go compete elsewhere for the last few weeks of my career.” He is definitely starting an exciting new chapter. As fans and teammates continue to process his tragic death, they’re looking forward at the legacy he leaves behind with the Vikings.
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