Adam Thielen announces his retirement after 13 seasons in the NFL

Sports Writing (EFE).- Adam Thielen, one of the most emblematic receivers in the history of the Minnesota Vikings, announced this Wednesday his retirement from the NFL at 35 years old, ending a 13-season career marked by consistency, overcoming, and productivity.

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“Since last spring I knew this would be my last season. That’s why the Vikings gave me the opportunity to compete with the Steelers in the final weeks of my career. This team is in my bones, in my heart, and is part of my DNA. I will always be a Viking,” Thielen expressed in his farewell message. The veteran receiver began the 2025 season with Minnesota, but after the team was out of the playoff race, he requested permission to join the Pittsburgh Steelers with the aim of trying to win a Super Bowl in his last year as a professional. The franchise granted it and he was able to play the final eight regular season games and the wild card game, in which Pittsburgh fell last Sunday to the Houston Texans. In that last game of his career, Thielen caught two passes for 25 yards. “It’s incredibly difficult to write this. As a Minnesota native, wearing this uniform and representing this community has meant much more to me than football. Minnesota will always be my home,” added the receiver.

An exemplary career

Thielen arrived in the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted free agent and worked his way up to become one of the Vikings’ main offensive figures, with whom he was selected twice for the Pro Bowl. In 2022 he left Minnesota to play with the Carolina Panthers, a team he played for until the 2024 season. He returned to the Vikings in 2025 with the aim of saying goodbye to his childhood team, before ending his career with the Steelers. Minnesota’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, highlighted his legacy: “Adam is one of the best Vikings of all time. We wish him and his family the best in this new stage.” In 13 NFL seasons, Thielen accumulated 704 receptions, 8,497 yards, and 64 touchdowns, in addition to setting the league record for most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards, with eight.