Inside The Vikings

Vikings legend Adam Thielen officially announces retirement from NFL

As expected, Thielen has decided to call it a career after 13 years in the league.
Will Ragatz|
Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) enters the field before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) enters the field before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

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Longtime former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has officially decided to call it a career and retire from the NFL after 13 years, he announced on Instagram on Wednesday. That's been his expected decision since he asked for and was granted his release from his second stint with the Vikings on December 1.

"What a ride it has been!" Thielen posted on his story. "13 years what a blessing! Have been blessed with so many great relationships and mentors over the years that I am forever grateful for! Thank you to everyone who has supported me through the years, it has meant everything to my family and I!"

Thielen's final game came in the Steelers' blowout loss to the Texans in the wild card round on Monday night. Instead of getting an emotional sendoff with the Vikings, the competitor in Thielen wanted to pursue an opportunity to play more in the final month-plus of his NFL career. He got that with the Steelers, who won the AFC North and made it into the postseason, even if they wound up being bounced in dominant fashion in the opening round.

Thielen, 35, retires as a Vikings legend and one of the all-time great underdog success stories in the history of the league. The Detroit Lakes, MN native and former D-II Minnesota State standout landed with the Vikings as a rookie minicamp tryout player. He worked his way up from the practice squad to a special teams role and eventually a starting role as a wide receiver in his fourth season.

After his 2016 breakout, Thielen's peak run came over the next two seasons. He had 1,276 receiving yards in 2017 and then racked up 113 catches for 1,373 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2018. That '18 season began with Thielen recording eight consecutive 100-yard games. Thielen caught a career-high 14 touchdown passes in 2020.

Following a decade with the Vikings, Thielen spent two seasons with the Panthers, including a 1,000-yard campaign in 2023. He then returned to the Vikings via trade prior to last season, only to see a diminished role and ultimately wrap up his career in a Steelers uniform.

Thielen caught 704 passes for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns in 12 years of regular season action. He ranks third in Vikings history in receiving touchdowns, fourth in receptions, and fifth in receiving yards. He's a lock to be honored at U.S. Bank Stadium and go into the Vikings' Ring of Honor at some point in the not-too-distant future. What a story and what a career for the kid from Detroit Lakes.

Adam Thielen
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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