Adam Thielen Embracing the Grind in Pittsburgh: "I Want to Make an Impact Today"
PITTSBURGH - Adam Thielen isn’t in Minnesota anymore. He’s not tucking in his three kids at night or enjoying the comforts of home with his wife, Caitlin. Instead, he’s in a different time zone, learning a brand-new playbook, and trying to find his rhythm inside the Pittsburgh Steelers’ facility.
Twelve years into his NFL career, Thielen has seen a lot - but this week has been something else entirely.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Thielen said Friday. “It’s been a whirlwind, for sure.”
The Steelers claimed the veteran wideout off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, and by Thursday, he was already on the practice field getting extra mental reps with rookie quarterback Will Howard and a few new teammates. For Thielen, the challenge isn’t just about adjusting to a new team - it’s about rediscovering the grind that made him fall in love with football in the first place.
“I love football, so to learn a new system, it’s really challenging, especially in a short few days,” he said. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s really fun, exciting, and it kinda gets the love of the game back. I’m like, ‘Oh, man, I love competing and practicing and learning new concepts and learning how a quarterback thinks about things.’”
That mindset is exactly what Pittsburgh’s locker room needs right now - a seasoned pro who’s not just here to fill a roster spot, but to compete and contribute immediately.
Thielen’s current living situation reflects the chaos of a mid-season move. He’s holed up in a nearby hotel, spending most of his time at the team facility and squeezing in rest when he can. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of the job.
“When you’re claimed or traded, they have to put you in for so many days,” Thielen explained. “They’ve been great here, just accommodating to that.
And then trying to figure out a place for my family when they come here for a few weeks. The kids are in school, so they won’t be here until Christmas break, but once they get here, I’ll try to find a place just for a couple weeks.”
Until then, it’s all football, all the time.
“I haven’t even barely been at the hotel,” he added. “Today, I’ll enjoy a little bit of time there and be able to rest a bit.”
Even from afar, his family is plugged in. Thielen gave credit to his wife for holding things down at home, and his kids - all under the age of 10 - are fully dialed into Dad’s new team.
“They’re super excited to see that game this weekend, the rivalry, and they’ve been watching a bunch of videos of the Steelers and what they’re all about,” he said.
Through 11 games this season with Minnesota, Thielen has been relatively quiet on the stat sheet - eight catches for 69 yards - but his value to Pittsburgh might not be measured in numbers alone. It’s the leadership, the professionalism, the ability to pick up a new system on the fly and still find ways to contribute.
“The situation that they’re in - that we’re in - and just the opportunity to come and make an impact,” Thielen said, when asked what drew him to Pittsburgh. “At this point, I’m just really focused on what I can control, and that’s learning this playbook as fast as possible.”
He’s not thinking about Sunday’s kickoff. He’s thinking about Friday’s walkthrough.
About being sharp in meetings. About building chemistry with a young quarterback.
“I want to make an impact today,” he said. “I’m not even worried about Sunday right now. I wanna make an impact today by being prepared - being mentally prepared and physically prepared.”
That’s the kind of mindset that resonates in a locker room. And for a Steelers team fighting to stay in the playoff picture, Thielen’s all-in approach might be just what they need.