Minnesota Vikings Legend Makes Retirement Official

When the Minnesota Vikings turned their focus to Week 1 of the 2025 regular season, they saw a gap in the roster. Jordan Addison, who was just recently arrested again on January 12th, had to serve a 3-game suspension stemming from his July, 2024 run-in with the law. Jalen Nailor was coming off a hand procedure. Justin Jefferson had a hamstring strain into August, and the wide receiver position was looking thin.

Rather than grab someone off the open market, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled some (heart) strings, swinging a deal with the Carolina Panthers. Minnesotan Adam Thielen was brought back home. Unfortunately, he didn’t even finish his season with the Vikings after requesting his release, but his next stop will be a Ring of Honor ceremony.

Adam Thielen calls it a career

The Minnesota Vikings signed Adam Thielen as an undrafted free agent following a successful college career with Minnesota State-Mankato. The Detroit Lakes native went from a special teams extra to an offensive mainstay. Now, after 13 years in the NFL, he’s hanging up his cleats.

Veteran NFL receiver Adam Thielen announces his retirement. pic.twitter.com/AgVsKHXJJ2

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2026

Thielen’s retirement post on Instagram confirms what was always expected to be announced at the end of this season. His last career game was in the playoffs for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he picked up a critical fourth down conversion on a pass from NFL legend Aaron Rodgers.

173 of his 178 career games came in a Minnesota Vikings uniform. Thielen finishes his career with 8,497 yards to his credit. He hauled in 64 touchdown passes, and he ran for one as well. For a guy that was overlooked and an afterthought at the Division II level, his career could not have gone better.

Thielen had no contract in place for 2026 as he fulfilled his duties prior to the announcement. In total, the Minnesota native brought in just shy of $90 million over the course of his career. That makes him the highest-earning undrafted free agent in NFL history.

Expect MN Vikings celebration

There’s no reason to believe that Adam Thielen will ever make it to the Hall of Fame in Canton. However, even aside from him being “one of us,” he’s earned a nameplate among the Ring of Honor.

U.S. Bank Stadium proudly displays the names and numbers of former Minnesota Viking greats. Thielen will be among them as soon as the celebration can be planned.

Once enshrined, Thielen will become just the third wide receiver to join the Vikings Ring of Honor. Of course, that includes both Cris Carter and Randy Moss. While Jake Reed was a fun member of the “Three Deep” trio, Thielen’s career production far surpassed that and he worked well alongside both Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson.

Minnesota won’t need to trade for Thielen to get him to come back to U.S. Bank Stadium this time, and the ceremony should be a pleasurable experience for all.