Adam Thielen is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. After playing college at Minnesota State, Thielen went undrafted in 2013, but eventually signed with his hometown Vikings.
Thielen holds the NFL record for 8 straight 100 yard games, and on April 12, 2019, he signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Vikings. His ascension from backup to star is inspiring.
Thielen played four sports at Detroit Lakes, including football, basketball, baseball and golf. In football, Thielen helped lead his squad to a 9-1 record. In his senior season, he was selected to All-Conference and All-State.
As a redshirt sophomore, Thielen led his team with 686 yards, 41 receptions and 6 touchdowns. He was named Minnesota State's Offensive Player of The Year in 11 games. In his junior year, Thielen caught 62 passes for 715 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Thielen's final season, he leveled up as the team's top target and lead kick returner. Thielen ran for 1,176 yards on 74 receptions and 8 touchdowns.
Thielen finished near the record books for the main statistical categories for Minnesota State. It was a long and fruitful career.
Despite going undrafted, Thielen impressed enough in a private workout with the Vikings that they decided to sign him to a 3-year, $1.48 million contract. Before the season however, the Vikings waived Thielen as part of the roster cut process, but they stashed him on the practice squad.
2016 was Thielen's breakout season, where he went from sparsely used role player to lead the team with 967 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Since his emergence, he hasn't slowed down. In the 2018 season, Thielen finished with 113 receptions, 1,373 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns.
On April 12, 2019, Thielen signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Vikings. His role has grown in importance since the Vikings traded star receiver Stefon Diggs, although rookie wideout Justin Jefferson looks like a star.
hielen has a reported net worth of $5 million. He signed a 3-year, $1.48 million deal with the Vikings in 2013 after going undrafted. Thielen does not have any reported endorsements, even though he signed a $64 million contract extension in 2019. It's time to ask his agent where that endorsement money is at!
Thielen keeps a private life, but he is a practicing Christian. He's married to Caitlin Thielen, and the couple has two children together.
"I love when people doubt me. I love when people don't think that I'm good enough to play at a certain level, not good enough to be a starter, things like that. That's the stuff that drives me."
"You constantly have to grind, work harder than anyone else."
"I thought I was better at basketball, but obviously people didn't think so. But I loved them equally, whether it be baseball season, basketball, football, golf, I liked them equally."
"I really try to avoid looking at or thinking about my stats because I'm just trying to do my part in winning games."
He grew up a Vikings fan, and idolized Chris Carter and Randy Moss.
He played 4 sports in high school.
He was almost a dental equipment salesman.
He created the Thielen Foundation, which focuses on youth development.
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