Coming off a season in which Adam Thielen played in a career-low 10 games, the 34-year-old wide receiver is looking forward to another year in Carolina. With Bryce Young and Thielen together, the Panthers’ offense is in solid shape. The two have strong chemistry, which is one of the main reasons Thielen decided to return for his third season with the team.
Adam Thielen Shares Three Reasons Why He Stayed in Carolina
After spending the first nine seasons of his career in Minnesota, Carolina was a big adjustment for a receiver who had become overshadowed by Justin Jefferson. Thielen knew that even at his age, he could still produce at a high level.
He proved that in his first season with the Panthers, finishing with more than 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2018.
While he only played in 10 games last season due to a hamstring injury, he still had more touchdowns (five) than he did the season before (four). Thielen had two games with more than 100 receiving yards, and his 12.8 yards per catch was his highest mark since 2020.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen talks Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan, and life after football ahead of competing at the 2025 American Century Championship. @PFN365 https://t.co/3NUdzcmJBT
— Allison Koehler • PFSN (@AKoehlerNFL) June 30, 2025
“Leadership in the organization right now was a big part of why I came back. I believed in what they were going to do this offseason, bringing in strong leaders and talent both in free agency and the draft,” he said.
Thielen continued, “And then, obviously, Bryce Young and just some of the guys in the locker room that I have so much respect for and feel like are a huge part of this organization being successful. My family being 100 percent all in on another year was a big piece of that, too. So, a lot of factors, but I’m excited to be back.”
From Dec. 1, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, Thielen had six straight games with five or more receptions. He notably had nine catches for 102 yards against the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles during that stretch.
Three weeks later, he had five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns against division rival Tampa Bay. Heading into the 2025 season, Thielen wants to prove that age is just a number.
Before his injury, Thielen had just eight receptions for 109 yards across a three-game stretch. He missed time from Sept. 22 to Nov. 24, returning in the Panthers’ three-point loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Minnesota State graduate remains a top receiver on the depth chart, along with Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Hunter Renfrow, and David Moore.
