Adam Thielen admitted he never saw it coming.
“Didn’t know this was going to happen until yesterday morning,” Thielen said after learning he was headed back to the Minnesota Vikings.
The veteran wide receiver was officially traded from the Carolina Panthers to Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-rounder. The Vikings also received a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The deal ends Thielen’s two-year stint in Carolina. It also returns him to the franchise where he became a household name.
The reunion comes at a critical time. The Vikings are preparing for the first season with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy under center and needed immediate help at receiver with Jordan Addison suspended for three games and Jalen Nailor sidelined by a hand injury. Bringing back Thielen gives McCarthy another steady option alongside Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Thielen, who turned 35 last week, recorded 103 receptions for 1,014 yards in 2023 and added 615 yards with five touchdowns last season despite a hamstring injury. His reliability and veteran presence were instrumental in Bryce Young’s development with the Panthers, and Minnesota hopes he can provide the same stability for McCarthy.
Adam Thielen can be key for J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings
For Thielen and his family, the trade represents more than just a football move. His wife, Caitlin, posted videos of their children celebrating the news. In one clip, their young daughter jumped in excitement as she and Thielen chanted, “We’re going home.”
Thielen spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Vikings after arriving as an undrafted free agent from Minnesota State. He ranks third in franchise history with 534 receptions and 55 touchdowns. The move now gives him a chance to finish his career where it began.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are turning the page. They will lean on recent first-round picks Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette, along with Jalen Coker and Jimmy Horn Jr., to build a younger receiving corps for Young.
The Vikings, however, sent a different message. By bringing Thielen back, they showed they are intent on giving McCarthy every opportunity to succeed.
