Adam Thielen has built an impressive NFL career since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He enters his 12th year in the league and the final year of his three-year, $25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2025.
Thielen, now in his age-35 season, knows he is in the twilight of his career and revealed his post-retirement plans in an exclusive interview with PFSN.
Adam Thielen Eyes Post-NFL Career in Media While Embracing Family Time
Thielen didn’t see playing time in his rookie season. Still, he kept knocking on the door, delivering consistent performances in the preseason and on the practice squad, and eventually made the 53-man roster the following season. A little over a decade later, he is an All-Pro, a two-time Pro Bowler, and holds the record for most straight 100-yard games.
Having achieved nearly everything in his career — except a Super Bowl ring — and knowing he will be 36 years old when the 2026 season starts, Thielen realizes his time in the league is ending. But he isn’t ready to leave football yet, not even after retirement.
“I’ll get into some type of media,” he told PFSN of his retirement plans. “I don’t know what that’ll look like, but I want to stay around the game.”
Adam Thielen is a touchdown machine 🤖
He’s tied for the league lead with 10 TD catches this season!
📺: #MINvsDET — Sunday 1pm ET on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/24t7vkBBL4— NFL (@NFL) December 4, 2021
Thielen and his wife, Caitlin, have three children: Asher, Hudson, and Cora, and one of the motivations for retiring will be spending more time with them.
“My boys are pretty into sports right now, and I was able to coach quite a bit this spring. But being as involved as possible in my kids’ lives will be great. And then dabbling here and there and playing a lot of golf.”
The former Viking has previously hinted this spring that 2025 could be his last season in the league, and his family would be a big factor if and when he decides to hang it up.
“It could be, (my final season) yeah,” Thielen shared in a press conference. “I mean, I told you guys at the end of the season. Like every year, you look back and you say, ‘Hey, like what left do I have to give to this game?’ You know, I talked to my family, and they wanted me to keep playing, and so it’ll be the same process.
“And then once the season’s over, evaluate, see where we’re at, see where the team’s at, see where I’m at individually, and as a family, and figure it out. But yeah, definitely winding down my career. But excited about this year and what could happen.”
Thielen was signed by the Panthers in 2023 as a reliable option for then-rookie quarterback Bryce Young. He recorded the third 1,000-yard season of his career in his first year in Carolina, but was reduced to 615 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 after missing seven games due to a hamstring injury.
The Panthers are thinking long-term after selecting Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Still, Thielen will continue to be the leader of the receiver room next season and will hopefully put up yet another 1,000-yard season.