Former Vikings WR Adam Thielen makes retirement official: ‘What a ride it’s been’

Adam Thielen is officially hanging up his cleats.

The former Vikings wide receiver, a native of Detroit Lakes, Minn., shared a post on his Instagram story Wednesday, Jan. 14, indicating his retirement, originally posted by an account called “Football Forever.”

“What a ride it’s been!” Thielen wrote in an overlay on the post. “13 years what a blessing! Have been blessed with so many great relationships and mentors over the years that I’m forever grateful for! Thank you to everyone who has supported me through the years it has meant everything to my family and I!”

Thielen, 35, started the 2025 season with the Vikings after being acquired via a trade with the Carolina Panthers that included draft picks in August.

The Vikings made the move while dealing with some uncertainty in their receiver room. Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor sustained injuries in training camp, and Jordan Addison was suspended for the first three games.

Thielen, after appearing in 11 games for the Vikings, requested to be waived in November in the hopes of getting more playing time. He indicated in a statement about his request for release that he entered the 2025 season knowing it would be his last.

At the time, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said there was “zero negativity” in conversations with Thielen about his usage and desire to exit.

Thielen was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and appeared in six games for them, including a playoff appearance in the wild-card round against the Houston Texans. The Steelers lost 30-6 on Jan. 12.

Thielen finished the season with 186 receiving yards on 19 catches between the two teams. The majority of those came in his final four games with the Steelers, including a season-high 49 yards on four catches against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 21.

In 12 NFL seasons, Thielen amassed 8,497 receiving yards on 704 receptions with 64 touchdown catches. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection (2017, 2018).

Thielen spent 10 of those seasons with the Vikings after starting his career in Minnesota as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State Mankato in 2013. He spent 2013 on the Vikings practice squad. He ranks in the top five in a handful of categories in the Vikings record book, including No. 4 in career receptions.

Thielen was cut by the Vikings after the 2023 season and signed with the Panthers in free agency, spending two seasons there before his return to Minnesota.

“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,” Thielen wrote in his statement at the time. “This team is in my bones, it’s in my heart and it’s part of my DNA.”