Veteran NFL wide receiver Adam Thielen announced his retirement Wednesday, he announced on social media.
Thielen spent
13 years in the NFL after signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013 out of Minnesota State. He made the Vikings’ 53-man roster in 2014 and became a key piece of the offense in 2016. He’d record his first-career 1,000-yard season the following year.
Thielen spent the vast majority of his time in the NFL with Minnesota, but near the end of it he spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers and the final six games of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thielen will retire with 704 receptions for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns. He made two Pro Bowls and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2017.
After joining the Steelers via waivers late in the 2025-26 season, Thielen provided a boost for the Pittsburgh offense as it made a playoff push, earning three starts and logging 117 receiving yards in his age-35 season. He was also a key blocker in Pittsburgh’s scheme.
It was expected that 2025 would be the last season of Thielen’s NFL career. He becomes to the first member of the Steelers’ current 53-man roster to move on from the team this offseason.
