The former Viking receiver made his TV debut on NFL Network.
Adam Theilen stepped away from football after a stint with Minnesota and Pittsburgh in 2025. The former Viking had an excellent career as an undrafted free agent and hometown boy from Minnesota State. The receiver finished with 704 receptions, 8,497 yards, and 64 touchdowns. Theilen and the Vikings reunited this offseason for one last ride before Minnesota allowed the receiver to head to Pittsburgh for a chance at a final playoff run with Aaron Rodgers.
Once the Steelers fell to the Texans, Theilen hung up his spikes. Now, he's trying his hand as an analyst. Sunday was his first appearance on NFL Gameday with an expanded role on the way. Theilen was able to shed some light on trying to win playoff games with a backup quarterback after his time in Minnesota, after Sam Bradford went down, and Case Keenum had to step in.
The Broncos were forced to start Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix broke his ankle in the divisional round.
“Yeah, I’ve actually had a lot of experience with backup quarterbacks over my time in the NFL,” Thielen said. “I look back to that time when Case kinda stepped into the huddle for the first time. Sam goes down, we had a lot of promise that season, we had a great defense, and Sam was playing well coming off a year in which he had a full season under the same system.”
“And so there was a lot of excitement. He goes down,” Thielen continued. “Case steps in. I remember in the huddle in practice that week thinking, ‘Man, this guy’s got something to him. And then you get to the game, and this is the important part. When you get to the game and those first couple series of him making some plays. He gets an earned first down, he scrambles and throws it up and we make a big play. And everybody starts to get confidence.”
Keenum and the Vikings made the NFC Championship to face Nick Foles in Philadelphia in a battle of the backup quarterbacks. Foles would famously go on to knock off Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, delivering Philadelphia's first Super Bowl.
If Sunday is any indication, Theilen has a bright future as an analyst. Next season will be the test for him as he will take a bigger role on NFL Network. Hats off to Theilen for an amazing playing career and potential analyst role.