By Sachin Shankar Yadav 
The Minnesota Vikings waived veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen at his request to allow him the opportunity to finish his NFL career elsewhere before retiring. Thielen, 35, who was reacquired by the Vikings from the Carolina Panthers in August 2025 primarily for depth, was not a key target this season as he competed for playing time with younger receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Having made it clear that 2025 would be his final NFL season, Thielen and his agent asked the Vikings to release him so he could seek a bigger role on another team in the remaining weeks of his career. The Vikings agreed out of respect for Thielen’s wishes, allowing him to pursue more playing opportunities elsewhere. Thielen is one of the all-time greats in Vikings history, ranking third in franchise catches behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss, after he initially signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and spent the first nine seasons there. This waiver enables him to potentially finish his career on his own terms before retirement.