Football Player Adam Thielen Agrees to Lower Salary with Minnesota Vikings Out of Loyalty to Hometown Team

Adam Thielen Agrees to Pay Cut with Minnesota Vikings

Adam Thielen, a lifelong Minnesotan who was born in the state, has agreed to restructure his contract with the Minnesota Vikings. This move comes as an effort to help the team manage their salary cap.

Thielen played collegiately at Minnesota State before signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013. After spending five seasons with the Vikings, Thielen signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Carolina Panthers in the same month in 2020.

However, Thielen's tenure with the Panthers was short-lived. He was traded back to the Vikings on Aug. 27, 2023, in a deal that involved a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick going to the Vikings, while the Panthers received a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Thielen's return to Minnesota was reportedly due to his desire to come back. In his previous stint with the Vikings, he had a total of 685 receptions, 8,311 yards, and 64 touchdowns in 162 regular-season games (128 starts).

Thielen's 2023 season was hampered by a hamstring injury, which caused him to miss 7 games. Prior to the injury, he had a productive season with the Panthers, recording 48 catches on 62 targets for 615 yards and 5 touchdowns in 10 games (all starts).

The restructured contract also wipes $4 million in incentives off the Vikings' books. Thielen was due to earn a $6.25 million base salary this season. The details of the new contract have not been disclosed, but it is known that Thielen has agreed to reduce his annual salary by $2 million.

Thielen's injury occurred while he was laying out to catch a 31-yard touchdown pass in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The exact timeline for his return is not yet clear.

With Thielen's return, the Vikings hope to bolster their receiving corps and make a strong push for the playoffs. The team currently sits at the bottom of the NFC North division, but with key players like Thielen and Kirk Cousins, they are poised to make a comeback.