The Minnesota Vikings currently have a strong wide receiver group, headlined by stars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Still, fans haven’t forgotten him as he spent 10 seasons with the team before being released after 2022.
Now with the Carolina Panthers,he confirmed Friday that the upcoming 2025 season might be his final one in the NFL. Speaking to The Athletic’s Joe Person, the veteran wideout said retirement is on the table.
When asked directly if this would be his last year, Thielen responded, “It could be. Like I said at the end of last season, each year I evaluate what I have left to give to the game. My family encouraged me to keep playing, so here I am. But once this season ends, I’ll reassess everything — how I feel, where the team is — and make a decision. I’m definitely nearing the end of my career.”
At 34, it’s no surprise that Thielen is contemplating retirement. Despite Carolina’s struggles at quarterback and on offense, he’s remained productive, racking up 1,629 receiving yards over the last two seasons — even outperforming his final two years in Minnesota (1,442 yards), though he had more touchdowns with the Vikings.
Thielen’s journey is remarkable. Undrafted in 2013 and without a snap in his rookie season, he eventually became one of the NFL’s most reliable receivers, earning Pro Bowl honors in both 2017 and 2018. He posted back-to-back 1,200+ yard seasons before Stefon Diggs took over the WR1 role and was later traded to Buffalo.
If Thielen decides to retire after the 2025 season, potentially at age 35, it would mark the end of an extraordinary and unlikely NFL career.
