The Minnesota Vikings were able to pull off a trade with the Carolina Panthers to reunite with veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.

After the rumors started rolling about Thielen possibly coming back to the Vikings, fans immediately began getting fired up. Thielen has been a fan favorite in Minnesota for years. The idea of having him back on the team was an obvious attraction.

Despite the trade discussions seemingly breaking down, the Vikings were able to keep working on a deal and finally got it over the finish line.

Now, Thielen is back in Minnesota. He spoke out for the first time since rejoining the Vikings.

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As shared by Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune, Thielen spoke out with a clear message to the franchise about how happy he is to be back in town.

“You guys know, without me saying it, how much this place means to me,” Thielen said.

Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen #19 of the Carolina Panthers looks on from the field during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Adam Thielen #19 of the Carolina Panthers looks on from the field during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Thielen will add a much needed presence and consistency to the wide receiver room in Minnesota. With Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games of the 2025 NFL season, the veteran wideout will likely be called upon to be a major impact player for second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

During the 2024 NFL season with the Panthers, Thielen showed that he is still more than capable of playing a huge role. He appeared in 10 games, racking up 48 receptions for 615 yards and five touchdowns. Back in 2023 with Carolina, he caught 103 passes for 1,014 yards and four scores.

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Even at 35 years old, Thielen is still a playmaker. That is exactly what made the Vikings pursue him so aggressively.

In addition to his first spoken message, Thielen shared a new post on Instagram about his return to Minnesota.

Clearly, this is a move that everyone feels good about. The Vikings got their wide receiver and Thielen was able to return home. On the outside looking in, it looks like a perfect fit for both parties involved.

Hopefully, everything pans out and Thielen is able to make a difference in Minnesota. He’ll have an opportunity to do so and the fans are very clearly all in favor of the move and are ready to support him in his return to the Vikings.

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