Vikings: Adam Thielen opens up about split from Minnesota
It won’t feel normal seeing longtime Minnesota Vikings great Adam Thielen wear a different uniform in 2023. Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, where he will serve as a veteran leader in the wide receiver room, as well as for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Though he’s entering a new chapter in his career, […]
It won’t feel normal seeing longtime Minnesota Vikings great Adam Thielen wear a different uniform in 2023.
Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, where he will serve as a veteran leader in the wide receiver room, as well as for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Though he’s entering a new chapter in his career, he isn’t going to let the change of scenery impact his thoughts on the franchise that signed him as an undrafted free agent all the way back in 2013.
“I think there are like two sides of it,” Adam Thielen told the Daily Delivery podcast. “It was a bummer. I didn’t want to leave Minnesota. I wanted to end my career there. Obviously, that would be the perfect fairy-tale way to do it, right? But that’s not reality. I’m so thankful for that organization, (general manager) Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah) and (Kevin O’Connell) and the staff. The way they handled this throughout the process was first-class.”
The 32-year has been rooted in the state since his college days at Minnesota State. He spent 10 seasons with the Vikings, though he only played in nine due to spending his rookie season the practice squad.
Thielen’s 2023 cap hit was just south of $20 million, which led to the two sides ultimately splitting ways. It’s the business side of the game, but that doesn’t make Thielen’s departure any less disappointing for both sides.
The good news is the Vikings will see Thielen again in 2023. The Vikings and Panthers are set to square off in Minnesota in the upcoming season. It remains to be seen when the two teams will meet, but Vikings fans will be anxiously awaiting the fan favorite’s return when NFL schedules are released on Thursday.
