Adam Thielen was supposed to sail off into the sunset in Minnesota after getting his highly anticipated homecoming last summer when the Vikings acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.
That never happened.
After struggling to carve out a niche for himself with the Vikings this season, Thielen requested his release last month with hopes of playing a bigger role somewhere else. He was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers less than 24 hours later.
“This is tremendously difficult for me to write and certainly not how any of us imagined this to go,” Thielen wrote on social media at the time. “This organization means the world to us from the top down and this locker room is filled with true professionals.”
Now the 35-year-old receiver is ready to hang up the cleats for good.
After taking some time to reflect after the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans in the first round of the playoffs, Thielen took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to announce his retirement from the NFL. His post on Instagram included various pictures of him with his wife Caitlin, his sons Asher and Hudson, and his daughter Cora.
“What a ride it has been!” wrote Thielen, who finished his career with 704 receptions for 8,497 yards, and 64 touchdowns, playing for the Vikings, the Panthers, and the Steelers. “Have been blessed with so many great relationships and mentors over the years that I am forever grateful for!”
The underdog story has been told countless times since the Detroit Lakes native burst onto the scene more than a decade ago.
Originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State Mankato, Thielen bided his time on the practice squad, took advantage of his opportunities on special teams, and went on to establish himself as a household name.
If Stefon Diggs was Batman for the Vikings throughout the mid 2010s, Thielen was every bit his Robin in that span. Together, Diggs and Thielen formed a dynamic duo at the position, making life miserable on opposing teams that often struggled to take both of them away at the same time.
The steady production from Thielen wasn’t enough to keep him around long term. He was eventually cut by the Vikings in a move designed to free up some salary cap space. He signed with the Panthers shortly after his release and continued to be productive.
The rumors of a reunion with the Vikings popped up last summer and quickly became a reality after some tough negotiations. Though the homecoming came to a rather unceremonious end, Thielen will forever be celebrated for everything he did on and off the field during his time with the Vikings.
It’s only a matter of time before Thielen gets inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor. It also wouldn’t be a shock to see his No. 19 jersey hanging in the rafters at some point.
The only receivers in franchise history with more receptions than Thielen (542) are Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Justin Jefferson. The only receivers in franchise history with more yards than Thielen (6,751) are Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Justin Jefferson, and Anthony Carter.
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