The Minnesota Vikings parted ways with franchise icon Adam Thielen on Tuesday, and his wife explained why went into his decision to go the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Caitlin Thielen posted on Instagram about Adam’s decision to get away from the Vikings and join the Steelers on Tuesday.
Thielen started four games for the Vikings, and played in 11, but only had 18 targets and eight catches for 69 yards this season. He rejoined Minnesota, where he spent his first 10 NFL seasons before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2023, when the Panthers released him at the end of training camp.
The Steelers claimed Thielen off waivers Tuesday.
This Is Adam Thielen’s Last Chance To Win A Super Bowl
Thielen has been a consistent performer into his 13th NFL season yet asked for his release from Minnesota — so he can chase the ever-elusive first Super Bowl ring.
Still, his wife pointed out that winning was only part of the reason he asked out of Minnesota. Thielen has played just 29 percent of the Vikings’ offensive snaps this season and has only four catches on just 10 targets for 32 yards over their past seven games since No. 2 wideout Jordan Addison returned from suspension.
âItâs not even about wins or losses. Itâs about Adam wanting to compete, wanting to play,” Caitlin Thielen shared in a post on Instagram. “This is his last season. ⦠I know him as a competitor, he wants to compete, wants to play, wants to prove, heâs always been about proving people, proving to himself.”
Caitlin and the Thielen kids will remain in Minnesota while Adam goes to Western Pennsylvania. She opened up about how that decision will be hard but necessary — Pittsburgh will be in Cleveland on Dec. 28 — in the wideout’s final season.
“It’s just been really hard, especially for him around the holidays,” Caitlin said. “I think it’s been a blessing that he brought us [to Minnesota], home, so we know where to be post-football.”
Adam Thielen Can Help The Steelers Offense
The drop off has been profound for Thielen, since he went from a 1,000-plus season in 2023 in Carolina to effectively a bit player on one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams.
But the Steelers are in need of an offensive weapon to complement DK Metcalf in the worst way. Metcalf’s production has cratered as a consequence of the Steelers’ lack of depth — he is averaging just 28.8 receiving-yards per game over their past five games — and they have lost three of four and averaged only 14.5 offensive points per game in that span.
With veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers passive-aggressively pleading for his team to upgrade the talent around him, and the extremely winnable AFC North falling out of Pittsburgh’s grasp after its 4-1 start, the front office made the right call by claiming Thielen.
Thielen has been a possession career throughout his career, which complements Metcalf as the deep threat. He also had 615 yards in 10 games for the Panthers a year ago and can at least command some attention more so than Calvin Austin, who is the team’s de facto No. 2 receiver.
Austin has just 26 catches for 298 yards this season but is definitely more of a WR3, especially opposite Metcalf.
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