Adam Thielen did not have to wait long for his next opportunity after the Minnesota Vikings waived him on December 1. The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the veteran wide receiver off waivers on December 2, who remain in the AFC North race and are looking for any boost they can get.
Pittsburgh followed that move by adding cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad, according to ESPN.
Thielen had only recently returned to Minnesota before the 2025 NFL season, rejoining the Vikings in late August after a trade from the Carolina Panthers. With Thielen now with the Steelers, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio believes that the wideout probably didn’t want to go to Pittsburgh.
“Poor Thielen, like Brandon Cooks was able to get through waivers and sign with any team he wanted,” Florio said on the December 3 edition of “Pro Football Talk.” “The belief is he would prefer a Super Bowl contender, and the Steelers clearly are not that, nor is Thielen going to turn them into one. Still, he was claimed on waivers one day after being released by the Vikings.
“Welcome to Pittsburgh, Adam Thielen. Enjoy the five games with the Steelers. He has said he plans to retire after the season, and while he might get one more game, it’s hard to see him getting more than that once the regular season ends.”
Adam Thielen’s Wife Breaks Silence on Vikings’ Release
When it became official that Thielen’s second stint in Minnesota was over and that he would continue his career with the Steelers, his wife opened up about why the veteran was seeking a fresh start, as it will now be his final season.
“It’s not even about wins or losses, it’s about Adam wanting to compete, wanting to play,” Caitlin said on an Instagram video (h/t VikingzFanPage). “This is his last season… I know him as a competitor, he wants to compete, wants to play, wants to prove, he’s always been about proving people, proving to himself.”
Thielen steps into a Steelers wide receiver group that already features DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Ke’Shawn Williams, and Scotty Miller.
Adam Thielen Was Ready for Another Chapter
Thielen’s exit from the Vikings came a day after he was held out as a healthy scratch in the 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah explained that Thielen’s agent had asked for the change the previous week.
As a result, the 35-year-old receiver was looking for a spot that would give him a larger role as he approached the final stretch of what is expected to be his last season.
“Since this past Spring, I knew this was going to be my last season playing in the National Football League, ” Thielen wrote in a post on social media (h/t ESPN). “Given that, the Vikings allowed me the opportunity to go compete elsewhere for the last few weeks of my career.”
The Steelers will be dropping Thielen into a significant game in Week 14, as they face the Baltimore Ravens in a battle for the AFC North division.
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