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(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
After the Minnesota Vikings waived wide receiver Adam Thielen on December 1, the veteran quickly found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are battling for the AFC North division title and can use all the help they can get.
Pittsburgh claimed Thielen off waivers on December 2, which was followed by the Steelers signing cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad, per ESPN, citing a source.
Thielen arrived for a second stint with Minnesota right before the 2025 NFL season began, when he was traded to the Vikings from the Carolina Panthers in late August.
As he heads to the Steelers, Thielen’s wife, Caitlin, explained that he asked for a release because he wanted to stay on the field rather than focus on chasing wins, knowing this will be his final NFL 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 Looks to End Career On a Positive Note
Thielen was let go by the Vikings one day after sitting out as a healthy scratch in the team’s 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Thielen’s agent requested the move the week before.
As a result, the 35-year-old receiver hoped to find a place where he could contribute more during the closing stretch of his final season.
Once Minnesota’s receivers were back at full strength following Jordan Addison’s return, Thielen’s playing time shrank. He played only three snaps in his last outing, which came in Week 12 against the Packers.
“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.”
Could Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Be Traded This Offseason?
Thielen isn’t the only wide receiver in the news with a connection to Minnesota. After another performance in which Justin Jefferson was a non-factor in the loss to the Seahawks, the future of the Vikings star is in question. Still, one NFL insider doesn’t see a departure happening this upcoming offseason.
“They’re going to speak to him, I’m sure, at some point in time and get some feedback and input as to the player that he would want,“ Schefter said on the December 1 edition of “Get Up.” “It’s hard to imagine that they would trade Justin Jefferson, but then again, a year ago, I would have said it’s hard to imagine the Dallas Cowboys would have traded Micah Parsons, and they did.
“I still don’t think they’re trading Justin Jefferson. I think he’s clearly miffed, disappointed, and bewildered by the way this entire season and offseason, losing Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones is gone. But I don’t think it’s going to change as much and I don’t think they’re going to be moving off Justin Jefferson this offseason.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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