Adam Thielen’s end with the Minnesota Vikings isn’t exactly the fairy tale many would have hoped for.
On Monday, the team waived the veteran wide receiver shortly after he expressed a desire for increased playing time during what is likely to be his final NFL season, following a preseason trade that brought him back to his roots.
At 35, Thielen managed to catch eight passes for 69 yards across 11 games this season.
In a heartfelt post on X, he remarked, “Thank you to the Viking family. Writing this is tough, and no one really expected things to unfold like this.”
He added, “Coming from Minnesota, wearing this uniform holds a special meaning for me. It’s been a part of my life—deep in my marrow, in my heart, it’s just who I am. I’ll always consider myself a Minnesota Viking.”
The Vikings made headlines this offseason by re-signing Thielen, who had an impressive career with the team after going undrafted and playing at Division II Minnesota.
During his time with the Vikings from 2014 to 2022, Thielen was a key player before signing with the Carolina Panthers. The trade reunited him with the Vikings for a reasonable price, sending a fifth and a fourth-round pick in exchange.
He’s even taken a $2 million pay cut to make this happen, lowering his salary from $7 million to $5 million. That seemed reasonable, I guess, as he was expected to team up with emerging stars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Unfortunately, what looked good on paper didn’t translate into the field. Recently, Thielen was a healthy scratch before they bid farewell to him in rather disheartening fashion: a 26-0 loss to the Seahawks.
Now, he could be a valuable pickup for teams looking for low-cost options with untapped potential.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated, “Last week, Adam’s agent reached out to discuss Adam’s future and his wish for more playing time for this, likely, last season. After some talks, we felt it was fair to let him seek out opportunities to play elsewhere. Adam is undoubtedly one of the greatest Vikings ever, and we wish him all the best.”
During his illustrious career, Thielen ranks fourth in receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and third in receiving touchdowns in Vikings history—a remarkable feat considering he shares the field with legends like Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
In closing, Thielen expressed his sentiments about his career: “With gratitude and love, I’m coming back to retire!”
