The Pittsburgh Steelers’ search for reliable pass-catching help may not be over just yet - and a familiar veteran name is now back in the mix. Adam Thielen, the longtime Minnesota Vikings wideout, is reportedly on the radar as a potential fit in Pittsburgh, as the team continues to explore ways to bolster a thin receiving corps.
Thielen, who has carved out a highly productive 12-year NFL career, was recently floated as a possible addition for the Steelers. The logic is simple: Pittsburgh needs steady, experienced hands on the outside, and Thielen - even at 35 - still brings a reputation for route precision, leadership, and locker room steadiness.
The timing of this potential fit is interesting. Just a day after Aaron Rodgers made headlines by suggesting that some Steelers receivers may not be fully committed to their routes or responsibilities, Thielen’s name surfaced as a possible solution.
Rodgers and Thielen had once been speculated as a potential pairing when Rodgers was seeking new weapons for his stint with the New York Jets. That connection never materialized, but the idea of Thielen joining a team that values discipline and veteran presence - like Mike Tomlin’s Steelers - makes plenty of sense.
This isn’t a team that’s sitting idle. After trading for DK Metcalf earlier in the season, Pittsburgh made it clear they’re not content with the status quo at receiver.
But even with Metcalf in the fold, the Steelers’ offense still needs more consistency through the air. Thielen may not be the explosive threat he once was, but he’s long been one of the league’s most reliable possession receivers - a savvy route-runner who knows how to get open and move the chains.
His career numbers speak for themselves: 693 receptions, 8,380 yards, and 64 touchdowns. That’s the kind of production you don’t stumble into.
But 2025 has been a different story. Thielen’s season in Minnesota has been quiet - just eight catches for 69 yards across 11 games - and he was even a healthy scratch in the Vikings’ Week 13 loss to the Seahawks.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who was once the heartbeat of Minnesota’s passing game.
Still, it’s hard to pin all of Thielen’s struggles on him alone. The Vikings’ quarterback situation has been rocky, with rookie J.J.
McCarthy going through typical growing pains. The entire offense has sputtered, and Thielen’s role has diminished as a result.
For Pittsburgh, this could be a low-risk, high-character addition. Thielen wouldn’t be asked to carry the load - that’s Metcalf’s job now - but he could offer the kind of veteran savvy and reliable hands that help stabilize a young and inconsistent offense. And for Thielen, it might be a chance to close out his career on a high note, contributing to a playoff push in a city that knows a thing or two about gritty football.
Mike Tomlin has always valued leadership and accountability, and if Thielen still has something left in the tank, this could be a move that benefits both sides.