Two-time Pro Bowl WR Adam Thielen retiring from NFL after 13 seasons

Wide receiver Adam Thielen has announced his retirement from the NFL after a 13-season career. Thielen, 35, concluded his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers following their Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and rose to prominence in 2016. Thielen earned Pro Bowl selections in 2017 and 2018, with his peak performance in 2018 featuring 113 catches for 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns.

Thielen was released by the Vikings in 2023 due to salary cap constraints and then signed with the Carolina Panthers, producing 103 receptions for 1,014 yards in his first season there. After a brief return to the Vikings in 2025, he was claimed by the Steelers, where he played his final games. Over his career, Thielen amassed 704 receptions for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns across 178 games, making