Ever since signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 offseason, Adam Thielen has been a reliable target for Bryce Young. The veteran pass-catcher is obviously not the player he once was when he was in Minnesota but he still put up 1,000+ yards in his first year in Carolina and continued to be a safety blanket for this young offense in 2024, finishing with 615 yards and five touchdowns in ten games.
After the season, however, the 34-year-old revealed that he was contemplating retirement. Even though he had one more year on his contract, Thielen had said he needed some time to think aboutwhether to play another season or not.
On Thursday, he finally announced his decision. Per Panthers.com's Darin Gantt, the former Pro Bowler is coming back for another season in Carolina and admitted that Bryce Young and the Panthers' trajectory isa big reason why.
Yes, Adam Thielen is coming back next year.
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt)February 6, 2025
And Bryce Young and the Panthers' trajectory is the major reason why.
But he admitted Thursday that retirement was a lot closer than anyone realized at the end of last season.https://t.co/O38i4hVhlP
Panthers News: Adam Thielen Announces His Return in 2025
Thielen was admittedly a lot closer to retirement than many people thought. He said that his entire family came to watch his last game with the Panthers because he had told them that this could be his last NFL game ever.
The former Vikings fan favorite revealed that the serious hamstring injury and how long it took for him to return from it this season was a reason he was thinking about hanging up his cleats.
Upon his return, Thielen still proved that he had gas left in the tank by putting up two 100+ yard games in the final five weeks of the season. After getting a taste of what the ascendant Panthers offense could look like next year, Thielen is coming back to help this young team take another step forward.
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