Veteran NFL Wide Receiver Adam Thielen Waived By Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have waived Wide Receiver Adam Thielen, a hometown hero, for the second and final time. It’s a move that feels less like a clean break and more like that awkward moment when you run into your ex at the grocery store.
Thielen, a Minnesota native and a guy who embodies the “one of us” spirit, is packing his bags. But this isn’t some dramatic, locker-room-clearing exit. In a move dripping with a mix of sadness and practicality, Thielen asked for his release. He’s already announced this is his last rodeo, his final NFL season, and he wants to spend his last few weeks on a team that’s actually competing for something.
The Swan Song Thielen Was Looking For
Let’s be real, Thielen’s triumphant return to the Vikings this season wasn’t exactly the Hollywood script everyone hoped for. After a solid 1,000-yard season with the Panthers in 2023, he came back to Minnesota, even taking a $2 million pay cut, ready to be a veteran presence alongside superstars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The idea was great on paper: the old dog showing the young pups a few tricks.
But then reality hit. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison healthy and dominating targets, Thielen’s role shrank faster than a cheap sweater in a hot wash. He played a measly three snaps in Week 12 and was a healthy scratch for the team’s embarrassing 26-0 beatdown by the Seahawks.
For a player of his caliber, that’s not just a benching; it’s an insult. He finished his final Vikings chapter with a quiet 8 catches for 69 yards. It’s a bit like getting a legend back for one last concert, only to have him play tambourine in the background.
The Legacy Of Adam Thielen
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah called Thielen “one of the all-time great Vikings,” and he’s not wrong. This is the guy from Detroit Lakes who went from an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State to a two-time Pro Bowler. His name is etched in the Vikings’ record books right behind Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss. He’s third in touchdown catches, fourth in receptions, and fifth in receiving yards. That’s legendary stuff.
In his farewell note, Thielen made it clear this wasn’t how he envisioned his career ending in Minnesota. “This team is in my bones. It’s in my heart and it’s part of my DNA,” he said. “I will ALWAYS be a Minnesota Viking.”
Now, the 35-year-old is a free agent, hoping a contender will give him a call. Will he get that one last shot at a Super Bowl ring? It’s a long shot, but for a guy who built a career on defying the odds, you can’t count him out. As for the Vikings, they’re left to navigate a miserable 4-8 season and wonder what could have been.
