Longtime Minnesota Vikings star Adam Thielen admitted he harbored some hard feelings toward the team after his release last season, but he’s since gained a new perspective during his year away from his home state.
The 33-year-old Detroit Lakes, Minnesota native revealed in an interview with the Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer that he felt the need to reach out to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell during the 2023 season — months after he settled into his new home with the Carolina Panthers.
“It’s tough. Initially, the emotions get the best of you. You get frustrated, you don’t understand it,” Thielen said on the May 8 episode of the Star Tribune’s “Access Vikings” podcast. “I’ve sent several messages to Kevin and Kwesi, letting them know there are no hard feelings and that I respect those guys and understand that there’s a business to it.”
Thielen added that he enjoyed a level of stability few players experience, as he never had to uproot his life for the majority of his playing career — a luxury few NFL players have.
“It’s totally different, a whole different world. You get a whole different perspective. You start to understand what guys go through that I have never had to go through, which I took for granted for 10 years in Minnesota,” Thielen said.
“I was born and raised a Vikings fan in Minnesota. You take it for granted when you’re there, and then you realize how great of a fan base and how supportive the community is in Minnesota. You get a different perspective.”
