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Adam Thielen is no longer a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota wide receiver’s unique situation came to a close on Monday, as the team waived the 35-year-old’s move after he asked to finish his NFL career elsewhere before retiring.
Thielen and the Vikings confirmed the news in a social media post on Monday, and Thielen released a statement saying this will be his final season in the NFL.
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Because the Vikings are now 4-8 and have a slim chance of making the playoffs, Thielen wants to appeal to a team that can use the available depth of running back prospects.
“This is difficult for me to write and certainly not for us to know what this is like,” Thielen said in a statement. “As a native of Minnesota, putting on this uniform over the years and representing this community and getting off the field has always meant a lot to me. It’s become part of my DNA.
“From this past spring, I knew this would be my last season playing in the National Football League. In that case, the Vikings allowed me the opportunity to continue competing elsewhere in the last few weeks of my career.”
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Like the aforementioned Thielen, from Minnesota, and having joined his home state team as a free agent released from Minnesota State, it is a difficult decision to look elsewhere to finish his career.
In 2014, Thielen got his first crack at the NFL with the Vikings, where he would eventually develop into one of the team’s top options. In 2016, he had a breakout season with 967 receiving yards on 69 carries with five touchdowns.
After that, Thielen had back-to-back Bowl Campaigns in 2017 and 2018, reaching at least 1,276 yards and four touchdowns in each of them. His best year came in 2018, when he rushed for 1,373 yards with nine touchdowns over 16 games for Minnesota.
Since Justin Jefferson was drafted by the Vikings and clearly became one of the best receivers in the game, Thielen moved into the WR2 role, though he remains a piece of the Vikings’ offensive formula.
Adam Thielen of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the 2025 NFL game against the Chicago Bears at US Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)
In 2023, however, Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers after nine seasons with the Vikings. Carolina remained a rebuilt team, but Thielen put up 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games in his first season with the team. After a season of 10 games through 2024 with many people, Thielen returned to his wings in his 12th season.
With Jefferson, Jordan, Addison, Jalen Nailor all needing to go through them, Thielen was coming from the depth of the Vikings, and they did not find a consensus on the quarterback with jj McCarthy, now and now max brosmer is struggling in his time on Sunday.
It’s unclear if Thielen can fit in there now in the NFL, though he will be available to add if he clears waivers.
That being said, Thielen promised the Vikings faithful that he would return at some point to make sure he retires with the team he always loved.
“Minnesota will always be our home and we are very grateful to the Wilf family, [general manager] IN THIS [Adofo-Mensah]Ko [head coach Kevin O’Connell], [executive vice president] Plunder [Brzezinski] And everyone in the Viking organization to take us back to August. This organization means the world to us from top to bottom and this locker room is full of true professionals.
Adam Thielen of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at US Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)
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“With gratitude and love and I will return to retire!”
Adofo-Mensah released a statement via the Vikings’ Social Media, which praised everything Thielen has done for the organization.
“Following discussions over the weekend and out of respect for Adamu, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue more playing time elsewhere.”
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