When Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen competes at the American Century Championship in Tahoe this July, he’ll be doing more than enjoying a mid-summer golf outing. Thielen shared his personal Mount Rushmore of wide receivers ahead of the 36th annual event in an exclusive interview with PFSN.
Adam Thielen’s Wide Receiver Mount Rushmore Features All-Time Legends
In sports and pop culture, the “Mount Rushmore” reference is often used to name a personal top four of all-time greats in a specific category. Modeled after the national memorial that features four U.S. presidents, it symbolizes the most legendary and influential figures in a given field.
For Thielen, the following four wideouts shaped his perspective on greatness at the position:
1) Cris Carter
Thielen did not hesitate to include Chris Carter, one of the most polished and productive receivers in NFL history. ͏Carter was͏ selected by ͏the ͏Philadelphia Eagles͏ in the 1987 Supplemental Draft after being͏ ruled ineligible ͏for͏ his͏ senior college season.͏
Despite early career setbacks, including ͏a suspension and being waived, Carter found new life with the Minnesota Vikings, who claimed him for $100. He rewarded that leap of faith by producing eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Finishing his career ranked among the top six in receptions and touchdowns. His consistency and elite hands made him a natural choice for Thielen’s top four.
2) Randy Moss
Another former Viking, Randy Moss, earned his place through sheer dominance. Cameron Sheath of PFSN notes that Moss still holds the rookie touchdown reception record with 17 scores in 1998. His explosiveness changed defensive game plans across͏ the league.
14 seasons worth of Moss.@RandyMoss‘ BEST PLAY from every season! (via @NFLThrowback) pic.twitter.com/4lkGMF0uup
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2019
M͏oss’͏s 2007͏ season with the New England Patriots ͏remains iconic, featuring 23 touchdown receptions and a ͏near-perfect season. Though he was overlooked for ͏the Madden cover͏ the following ͏year, his impact was unmistakable.͏ ͏For Thielen, who grew up watching Moss electrify crowds, the inclusion was both personal ͏and professional.
3) Jerry Rice
It is no surprise that ͏Jerry Rice appears on Thielen’s Mount Rushmore. Rice had mindblowing numbers: 1,549 catches, 22,895 receiving͏ yards, and 1͏97 touchdowns, ͏all ͏NFL records. Drafted in 198͏5, ͏Rice’s durability and ͏dominance extended into his 40s, with ͏a 1,000-yard season for the Raiders ͏at age ͏40.
His ͏work ethic and longevity have ͏made ͏him the widely accepted standard at͏ the position. ͏For Thie͏len, Rice represents the pinnacle of ͏what a wide receiver can achieve over time.
4) Larry Fitzgerald
Rounding out Thielen’s list is Lar͏ry Fitzgerald, ͏whose precise route-running and leadership͏ defined͏ his ͏long tenure ͏with the Arizona Cardinals. PFSN highlighted a game against Seattle Seahawks from 2019͏, where ͏F͏itzgeral͏d posted modest stats with five ͏catches for 47 yards, yet earned the second-͏highest Offensive Share Metric (how responsible a player was for his own production) grade of the season.
This ͏reflected his ability to maximize every opportunity. Thiele͏n admired Fi͏tz͏gerald’s intelligence͏ and consistency, traits that resonate with his own approach ͏to the game.
Honorable Mentions
Thielen acknowledged the difficulty of narrowing the list to just four. He gave honorable mentions to Davante Adams and Antonio Brown, two receivers whose peak performances left a mark on the league.
Adams, now 32, was recently traded to the Los Angeles Rams from the Las Vegas Raiders. Known for his elite route running and red-zone prowess, Adams remains a dangerous weapon for a contending team.
Brown built a Hall of Fame-worthy resume with four first-team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring. Between 2013 and 2018, Brown had six straight seasons with at least 101 receptions and 1,284 yards, redefining what dominance looked like at his size. His career declined due to off-field issues following his departure from Pittsburgh.
