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Adam Thielen and family look thrilled after Panthers-Vikings trade

There's certainly no hard feelings for the Thielen family.
Zach Roberts|
Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Former Minnesota Golden Gophers alum and Carolina Panther Adam Thielen during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Former Minnesota Golden Gophers alum and Carolina Panther Adam Thielen during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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It's official: Adam Thielen is headed back home. The news broke this morning after days of negotiation. At one point, the reporting was that the Carolina Panthers were unwilling to settle for a package less than stellar since they liked Thielen, but the Minnesota Vikings finally convinced them.

The need arose during preseason, and the Panthers had extra wide receivers, plus Thielen is a genuine fan favorite with the Vikings. Now that it's official, he and his family seem quite pleased that they're leaving the Panthers and going back home.

Adam Thielen looks happy about Vikings reunion

Adam Thiele
Jul 26, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) walks off after practice at training camp. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images | Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

In 2023, the Minnesota Vikings released Adam Thielen, and he signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was a longtime Vikings standout, a fan favorite, but also a cap casualty. Now, after two years with the Panthers, he's heading home. He could not be more pleased.

His wife, who posted last night alluding to her desire for the trade to happen, shared a video of Thielen and his daughter, who was jumping up and down for joy. "We're going home!" Thielen shouted over and over again.

The entire family is very happy about it, and Caitlin Thielen wrote that their son, Asher, might end up crying tears of joy when they pick him up from school. The family will have to move, but they'll be headed back home.

She shared another video of her and their daughter reacting in pure bliss and emotion to the news. She was in tears, and their daughter couldn't get the smile off of her face.

The reports were that Thielen was excited about the prospect of returning to the Vikings. However, he was also happy in Carolina and decided not to retire because of Bryce Young's resurgence. He was going to be just fine in Charlotte, but Minneapolis is his home.

The Panthers may or may not have taken that into consideration. They got a decent if unspectacular return for the wide receiver, but this was clearly something the veteran who had been so reliable for them for the past two seasons wanted badly.

Thielen, despite missing seven games in 2024, was the leading receiver in most categories over the last two years. The Vikings need someone like that, and Thielen is happy to be that person.

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Zach Roberts
ZACH ROBERTS

Zachary Roberts is a journalist with a wide variety of experience covering basketball, golf, entertainment, video games, music, football, baseball, and hockey. He currently covers Charlotte sports teams and has been featured on Sportskeeda, Yardbarker, MSN, and On SI.

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