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Most people know a lot about Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and his story. Playing at a DII college and going undrafted and impressing enough at a rookie minicamp to get a shot with his hometown team. He started as a special teams stud and worked his way up to being one of the better receivers in the NFL. But there is more to the Adam Thielen story than just being an undrafted star.
Lets breakdown four things you need to know about the former Minnesota State star.
4. He was almost a dental equipment salesman
Being from a DII school, Thielen knew it might be a bit of a long shot to make the NFL, so like most DII athletes he had a job lined up for once college ended. Before his senior year ended, he accepted a dental equipment sales internship that was to start once college ended.
Once he got his shot in rookie training camp, he had to call back the company and tell them he couldn't take the job because he had received a new job offer, with the Vikings.
3. Thielen's wife played soccer at Minnesota State
Adam Thielen's wife, Caitlin, was also a Division II soccer player with the Mavericks, but they met when she was attending Iowa State. In Caitlin's blog, she discussed how the two met at a party at the University of Minnesota, but she never gave him much of a chance.
Once she transferred to Mankato she finally gave Adam a chance and they hit it off instantly. Faith is an important part of their relationship and was one of the first things they found they had in common. They dated for about two years before getting engaged and in 2015 they tied the knot. The couple now has two young kids together, both of whom are boys.
2. Grew up idolizing Randy Moss, Chris Carter, and Jake Reed
Growing up in Minnesota in the late 1990's and early 2000's, the stars of the team were Moss, Carter, and Reed. That was who Thielen looked up to and who made him really want to play wide receiver. In a 2017 interview for Monday Morning QB, Thielen said he would play in the backyard idolizing those stars.
“Those were the guys that really made me want to play receiver, made me want to play football. I’d be in the backyard wearing my Randy Moss jersey, my Cris Carter jersey, trying to make those catches those guys were making on Sundays.”
1. Created The Thielen Foundation
Thielen has been very active with charity work since coming into the league and just recently launched “The Thielen Foundation” with his wife. The goals of the foundation that are laid out on their website, include giving kids the right tools to live out their full potential.
Whether on the field or in the local community, the Thielen’s have been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received from the Minnesota community both growing up and during Adam’s playing career. Because of this, Adam and Caitlin have felt compelled to give back to the community that has given both of them so much over the years.
As a result, the Thielen Foundation was formed. With an overarching theme on youth development, the Thielen Foundation aims to create programs that serve, educate and inspire individuals so they’re equipped and empowered to reach their full potential in life. The Thielen motto to “achieve your full potential” is a guiding principle lived out by Adam every day and is meant to inspire and motivate individuals to overcome challenges and adversity so they are able to tackle some of life’s biggest goals
