Despite being loaded at wide receiver, the Minnesota Vikings have had a disappointing season. This is thanks to the poor play of their quarterbacks. One former Viking receiver who returned to the team this past offseason was Adam Thielen.
Thielen was acquired to help replace Jordan Addison while he was suspended for the first three games and to take over the WR3 spot once Addison returned. With the season not going the Vikings’ way, the team surprisingly released Thielen on Monday morning.
Adam Thielen Reveals Why He Asked for His Vikings Release
Following his release, Thielen spoke out on X, providing insight into his decision to request free agency.
He wrote, “This is tremendously difficult for me to write and certainly no one imagined this to go. As a Minnesota native, putting on this uniform over the years and representing this community both on and off the field has always meant that much more to me. This team is in my bones, it’s in my heart, and it’s part of my DNA. I will always be a Minnesota Viking.”
Thielen went on to explain his mindset coming into the season: “Since last spring, I knew this was going to be my last season playing in the National Football League. Given that, the Vikings allowed me the opportunity to go compete elsewhere for the last few weeks of my career…. With gratitude and love, and I’ll be back to retire.”
#Skol https://t.co/PmpGmts9lr pic.twitter.com/AAZl4B0q6j
— Adam Thielen (@athielen19) December 1, 2025
While Thielen’s release was unexpected, it was a classy move by the Vikings organization. The veteran was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and spent the first nine years of his career with the team. In those nine seasons, he was part of dynamic duos with Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson, becoming one of the league’s most reliable WR2s.
Thielen himself recorded 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns over nine seasons with the Vikings. That production solidified him as one of the better WR2s in the NFL during that stretch.
This season, he has eight receptions on 18 targets for 69 yards. Given that the Vikings’ pass offense hasn’t been very productive this year, that isn’t terrible for a 35-year-old. Nevertheless, allowing him to request his release gives Thielen the chance to potentially join a Super Bowl contender for the final chapter of his career. This move reflects both the player’s and the organization’s class.
