New Steelers WR Reveals Pittsburgh Was Always on His Radar

The Steelers signed wide receiver Adam Thielen on Tuesday. He had previously requested to be released from the Minnesota Vikings because he wanted to play for a team that would give him more playing time. They released him on Monday. Thielen is expected to play a significant role in the Steelers' offense for the remainder of this season.

​When Thielen was asked if the Steelers were on his radar, he replied that they were “for sure.” He added, “The situation that they’re in, that we’re in, the opportunity to come and make an impact.” The Steelers explored Thielen as an option when they were searching for wide receiver help a year ago. When asked about the Steelers’ interest in him, he remarked, “At that point, they must have had a belief in what I could do, what I could bring. So, it makes me feel really good about being here.”

​Even though he’s 35, Thielen is still confident in his playing abilities. He explained, “I’ve always had a lot of confidence in what I can do as a football player. I still feel that I can run all of the routes and that I can be a deep threat, intermediate, and short. Sometimes, as an older player, you get tagged as ‘oh, he can only do this. He can’t run anymore.’ I’ve always felt the need to prove otherwise.”

​Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed confidence in Thielen. Rodgers said, “I’ve known Adam for a long time. Played against him in the NFC North for a number of years and got a lot of respect for his game. So, we’ll see how quickly he can get up to speed with the playbook. You know, I was joking with him, he said this is the best his body has felt because he hasn’t been playing a whole lot, you know, in Minnesota. So, I think he’s got a lot left in the tank and a lot of impetus to go out there and put some good play on film.” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith also believes that Thielen is an asset to the team. He said, “He’s got a lot of experience, he can add a lot of things to the room, in terms of guys watching his habits, the way he runs routes.”

​Thielen played for the Vikings for the majority of his career. He also played for the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and 2024, before they traded him back to the Vikings. Thielen was selected for the Pro Bowl for two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018. Throughout his NFL career, Thielen has amassed 693 receptions for 8,380 yards and 64 touchdowns.