Adam Thielen, C.J. Ham sign retirement deals with Vikings
A pair of longtime Vikings returned to the team's facility on Friday to sign one-day retirement contracts. Receiver Adam Thielen and fullback C. J.
Ham are now officially Vikings for life. Thielen, a Minnesota native who played at Minnesota State University in Mankato (where the Vikings used to conduct training camp), earned his spot on the team as an undrafted tryout player in 2013. He wasn't even invited to the Scouting Combine.
By 2014, he had a roster spot. (That year, he blocked a punt against the Panthers and returned it for a touchdown. ) By 2016, he had nearly 1,000 receiving yards.
The following year, he made the Pro Bowl and landed on the All-Pro second team. In 2018, he started the season with eight straight 100-yard receiving games, matching Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson's record. Thielen left for the Panthers in 2023 as a free agent.
In 2025, the Panthers traded him back to the Vikings. He eventually asked for his release, so that he could sign with a contender. He finished his career with the Steelers.