After two years with the Carolina Panthers, Adam Thielen is back playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The return was apparently so important to the wide receiver that he agreed to take a pay cut.

Adam Thielen apparently did not want to miss the opportunity to return to the Minnesota Vikings under any circumstances. According to ESPN, the wide receiver even accepted a pay cut to make this happen.

There is talk of him giving up two million US dollars. Thielen will therefore earn around five million US dollars this season.

The 35-year-old, who hails from Minnesota, played his first ten years in the NFL for the Minneapolis franchise before being released in March 2023. He then joined the Carolina Panthers for three years and $25 million.

Both clubs are said to have negotiated the terms of a deal for more than a week. The talks also involved possible draft picks – ultimately, the Vikings received a seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027 in addition to Thielen, while the Panthers received a fifth-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2027 in return.

Thielen’s return to the Vikings: Salary became an issue

Another issue was the two-time Pro Bowler’s salary. In the offseason, Carolina would have given him a $1.5 million raise, bringing his total salary for this season to $7 million.

However, the Panthers reportedly refused to cover part of Thielen’s salary during negotiations. It was only because of his willingness to forego part of the money that the deal went through.

Thielen has not spoken openly about his contract so far, but he has made it clear how important it is for him and his family to live back home. He was born in Detroit Lakes, about 300 kilometers from Minneapolis, and played college football for Minnesota State University in Mankato.

“I don’t even have to say what this place means to me,” Thielen said after his return: “The state, the city, the organization, the owners, the coaches, the players. I couldn’t be happier, and I can’t put into words how excited I am to be back home with my family.”

The wide receiver, who entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2013, had 151 receptions for 1,629 yards and nine touchdowns in 27 games for the Panthers. He had his strongest season in a Vikings jersey in 2020, when he scored 14 touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. Thielen broke the 1,000-yard barrier in 2017, 2018, and 2023.