An Emotional Farewell: Former Vikings WR Reveals Surprising Update About His Career.
The Panthers are not a contending team right now, but they’re looking to get younger and build around quarterback Bryce Young.
Having a veteran and a strong leader like Thielen certainly helps, but the NFL is a ruthless business, and Carolina likely won’t spend big money to bring him back on a new contract.
Also, they might be preparing for his departure after using their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select wide receiver Tetairoa McMillian.
Thielen has had a great career, all things considered, and he likely will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Viking when it’s all said and done.
“It could be, yeah,” Thielen said, via VikingzFanPage. “… You look back and you say, ‘Hey, like, what left do I have to give to this game?’ … It’ll be the same process. I’m not gonna think about that right now. I’m gonna focus on being the best football player I could possibly be. … And then once the season’s over, evaluate, see where we’re at.”
Thielen will be 35 years old this season and has struggled with injuries in recent years, so this makes perfect sense, but it’s a big blow nonetheless.
He emerged in Minnesota with back-to-back seasons with at least 1,200 receiving yards to get Pro Bowl nods in 2017 and 2018, thriving opposite Stefon Diggs.
He stayed productive even when Justin Jefferson burst onto the scene.
Thielen has been with Carolina for two seasons and posted 1,014 receiving yards in 2023.
