Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen acknowledged Friday that 2025 could be his final season playing in the NFL.
Thielen turns 35 prior to the Panthers’ season opener.
“It could be, yeah,” Thielen said, when asked if he may be entering his final NFL season. “I told you guys at the end of the season, like every year, you look back and you say, ‘Hey, what left do I have to give to this game?’ I talked to my family, and they wanted me to keep playing. So it’ll be the same process.
“Not gonna think about that right now. I’m gonna focus on being the best football player I can possibly be, and you have to have that mindset in this league. And then once the season’s over — evaluate, see where we’re at, see where the team’s at, see where I’m at individually and as a family. But definitely, definitely winding down my career.”
Thielen missed seven games last season after sustaining a hamstring injury while laying out to reel in a 31-yard touchdown reception in the Panthers’ 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22.
He finished with 48 catches on 62 targets for 615 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games (all starts) during his second season with the Panthers. He played with the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-22.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 685 receptions for 8,311 yards and 64 touchdowns in 162 regular-season games (128 starts).
