‘A blessing to be here’: Why Panthers chose Adam Thielen as nominee for NFL’s top honor
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen spent most of this past Thursday preparing for Sunday’s 36-30 overtime win against the Arizona Cardinals. He went through drills on the practice field outside Bank of America Stadium and took in film study in the wide receivers room with teammates.
But his day didn’t end at the facility. There was still more work to be done in uptown Charlotte.
And despite giving it his all during a rigorous workday, he beamed as he and his wife, Caitlin, and their eldest son, Asher, walked through the doors of Crisis Assistance Ministry at 5:20 p.m.
Thielen, without hesitation, introduced himself to the folks at the front desk before rerouting to his right to greet a couple of families with young children.
They didn’t know what was coming, but he did.
The organization’s CEO, Carol Hardison, grabbed a microphone to playfully introduce the Thielen family and praise the work done by their self-titled foundation. Hardison then announced that The Thielen Foundation, which was founded by Adam and Caitlin in 2018, would be donating $1,650 in cash to each of the 20 families in attendance.
There were cheers. There were tears. But mostly, there was a sense of relief for dozens of people who were seeking help during the holidays.
It was a moment that encapsulated why Thielen has been given the honor of being Carolina’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
“What he does on the field is amazing — he’s been an awesome player and leader — but off the field, this is honestly our heart, and we love giving back,” Caitlin told The Observer. “And I think it’ll be awesome for people to remember Adam as a giving person. He’s a very loving person, and I think that’s just who he is.”
Thielen, along with Caitlin and Asher, took pictures with most of the families in attendance, while the two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver signed autographs.
After the photos, the families lined up to pick out toys and winter coats and receive Panthers-logo sweaters from foundation partner and sportswear company UNRL.
“I think by helping give back in this way, it’ll just make their holidays a little more joyful and also hopefully help them in the future as they are trying to do bigger and better things,” Caitlin said.
For the families in attendance, the gifts were special, but the money could be a holiday miracle of sorts.
Whether it’s used to pay rent or take a holiday trip or just serve a big family meal, the Thielens gave not only financial relief, but trust to those helped by Crisis Assistance Ministry.
“The Thielens have said, ‘We trust you, you know the families, you serve the families, and we’re coming to you to say what would honor them most,’” Hardison said. “A lot of people would say, ‘I know what I want to do, I’m going to give you this money and you’re going to do this with it.’ They have said, ‘We believe in you, we trust you, we know the families have worked hard. We know the families have struggled, and we know these are families that have overcome major obstacles to housing stability.’ And they’ve made a major difference in their lives today.”
Thoughtful gestures have become a calling card for the Thielen family.
Even dating back to their time in Minnesota, the couple has been working to improve the lives of families in their communities. Thielen has also done what he can to do right by the younger players in his locker room, and that’s earned him universal praise from this teammates.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award is given annually to the player who “excels on the field and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.” And while Thielen awaits that potential honor, The Observer spoke with those who know him best to understand why he deserves the recognition that he once sought to avoid.
‘The tangible impact’
When Thielen entered the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota State, he had very little margin for error. He also had a lot to learn as he spent his first season on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
Thielen immediately gravitated toward the team’s veterans to learn how to become a professional athlete. And as he learned how to practice and take care of his body from the likes of Chad Greenway, Kyle Rudolph and Brian Robison, he also took away some important lessons from them in the realm of philanthropy.
While attending their respective community events, Thielen and his wife realized they wanted to do their part as well.
“When we first started, it was more youth (oriented) and mental behavioral health in hospitals, because we have a passion for youth,” Caitlin said. “But then, as we kind of grew, we knew we had different areas that we kind of wanted to help out, so mental behavioral help is still one of those, as well as youth sports and families.
“Helping them excel in life, especially coming from maybe not a good place, or not the best place, and helping them try to reach their potential as kids, as families, as parents — so, yeah, it’s definitely a broad statement, but the more people and different organizations that we can help that align with our mission is what we’re all about.”
During Thielen’s time with the Vikings, one of the foundation’s biggest projects was adding lights to the football field at Brooklyn Center High School. Before that addition, the school was only able to host Friday afternoon games that were largely bereft of family and fans.
“I remember going to the first game that they had under the lights, and like the community support that was there — that they hadn’t had in years — and that’s when you’re like, ‘OK, this is bigger than just one person, two people, a team — this is like a community thing,’” Thielen said. “This is like the pride of a community. You’re not just impacting a few kids here or there. You’re impacting the whole community.”
Since arriving in Charlotte in 2023, the foundation has reworked a pair of high school weight rooms in the area, while still staying active in causes in Minnesota.
Last year, The Thielen Foundation revamped Harding University High’s facilities. This year, the foundation is in the middle of doing the same for Mallard Creek High in Charlotte and Como Park High in Minnesota.
As part of an $800,000 donation pledge year, the foundation has also provided school supplies to 1,000 students and scholarships to 41 student-athletes, according to the Panthers.
“It’s just cool to see a little glimpse of what his organization does,” wide receiver Dan Chisena said. “Obviously, they do more than just fundraisers — they’re actually out, making a difference with renovating weight rooms and stuff like that, which is just cool to see the tangible impact.”
‘A blessing to be here’
In 2022, Thielen and his family faced a fork in the road.
The wideout, now on the wrong side of 30 in the NFL, had become a supporting character in the Vikings’ new offense, and the writing was on the wall that it would likely be his last season in Minnesota.
Thielen and his wife had spent their entire lives in Minnesota. Thielen was inspired to play football by Vikings legends like Randy Moss and Cris Carter. And the couple had started a family, with their sons, Asher and Hudson, and daughter, Cora, in their home state.
Thielen says that was the toughest moment of his NFL career.
“Having to a leave a team that I thought I was going to spend my whole career (with) — that was definitely tough,” Thielen said. “Being doubted that you’re not the player that you used to be. And then again, just thinking that I was going to retire there, and be there toward the end of my career, and not being able to do that was a tough time.”
After being cut by the Vikings in 2023, Thielen — who says he has no resentment toward his former franchise — went looking for a new home and ultimately signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers. He said in interviews at the time that he felt the team could contend for a Super Bowl and that was part of the reason he signed with the squad.
Unfortunately for Thielen and the Panthers, the team went 2-15 and head coach Frank Reich was fired midway through his first season with the club.
And yet, Thielen and his family are happy to be in Charlotte.
“It’s been such a blessing to be here,” Thielen said. “I’ve grown so much as a player, grown so much as a person, as a teammate — I wouldn’t change anything for the world. I’ve never been a person to look back and say, ‘Woulda, shoulda, coulda.’ I’m focused on the moment, and today.”
Thielen and his family have found solace in their community work. Thielen has also embraced his role within the Carolina locker room.
As one of the more accomplished players on the Panthers’ roster, he has set a tone for his teammates, no matter their age or experience.
“What’s really special about Adam, on the field and in the huddle, is at 34 years old, he’s still one of the best players on the football field,” 38-year-old long snapper JJ Jansen said. “He’s vocal, he’s competitive, and he plays a style of football you want to get behind and emulate, whether you’re another guy in that offensive huddle or a guy on special teams, like I am.
“He’s been a very important player in my career — watching him, talking with him, the things he’s done on and off the field to make him the best version of himself — that we can all add to our games and our lives to make ourselves better football players and men.”
‘A guy that was about other people’
Thielen doesn’t do anything at half-speed.
While nursing a hamstring injury on injured reserve earlier this year, Thielen resisted coming back too early because he wanted to be able to run at his signature highly competitive pace.
That’s also how he approaches fatherhood, philanthropy and locker-room leadership.
“It’s easy to be a good person, a good leader when things are going great, but what kind of person are you when things aren’t going your way? Or the way you drew it up? Like how are you acting, day in and day out? What’s your energy like? What’s your communication like when things aren’t going well?” Thielen said. “I think that’s the biggest thing I see, and now I think I have this ability to see things that are around me. I think there’s so much fluctuation of energy and consistency in guys based on wins and losses, good games, bad games, and you start to realize that the biggest impact that you can make is just being the same person day in and day out.”
When offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was hired in the spring, Thielen was among the first to reach out to him.
Typically, a new coach will make the introductory calls to his players, but it was important for Thielen to pursue that relationship. The wide receiver quickly invited Idzik and his soon-to-be wife to dinner and picked up the tab.
“I think that was a really cool thing,” Idizk said. “He wanted to start the relationship, and I think he’s like that with everyone in the building.”
When Thielen was sidelined, he didn’t separate himself from the action. He wasn’t able to play in seven games, but his presence was felt on the practice field, in the meeting rooms and on the sidelines.
He showed up to most practices ready to serve as an extra coach for the young guys, including rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
“It was evident — from the first time I met him — that he was a guy that was about other people, other than himself,” wide receivers coach Rob Moore told The Observer. “When you look at Adam, you just see, from how he treats the rookies and the time that he spends with those guys — he doesn’t have to — it kind of resonates as you’re around him more and really get a good feel for the type of person he is and just how much he loves people and how much he loves giving back.”
Thielen — who was voted the team’s 2023 offensive MVP by his teammates in a locker-room poll conducted by The Observer — has been particularly important to the development of second-year QB Bryce Young.
Thielen, since Young arrived in Charlotte last May, has been a sounding board and a safety net for the 23-year-old signal caller. Last year, the wideout had the second 100-catch, 1,000-yard season of his career as he aided Young in the Panthers’ otherwise forgettable offense.
And despite the chaos of 2023, Thielen has continued to be a guiding light for Young, even as the quarterback has dealt with a whirlwind second season that featured a benching and a handful of largely forgettable outings.
“Great person when you take the football away,” Young said about Thielen. “And having someone like that in your locker room is always great.”
‘Here for a reason’
When Thielen was nominated by the Vikings for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2022, he wasn’t sure if he actually wanted that attention. He didn’t fully understand the weight of the honor or how it would affect his foundation.
Thielen doesn’t do philanthropy for accolades. Even during Thursday’s event at Crisis Assistance Ministry, there was a sense of subtlety to his presence in the room, as he shared the spotlight with Caitlin and their eldest son, Asher.
“She’s kind of, in everything — in our family, in our foundation — she’s kind of that rock that kind of holds everything together,” Thielen said of Caitlin.
But after going through the process the first time, Thielen, his wife and their foundation realized the benefits of being talked about in the same breath as Payton’s legacy.
The NFL Man of the Year award is considered the league’s most prestigious individual honor, and it can provide a huge boost to the winner’s charitable endeavors. All 32 nominees receive $55,000 for a charity of their choice, but the winner gets up to $265,000 in donations toward his cause.
“When he first got it with the Vikings, we didn’t really know what it meant, or how big of a deal it was,” Caitlin said. “But when we went, especially to the (NFL Honors ceremony) at the Super Bowl, and saw all of these NFL players doing work in their communities, and we heard the story of Walter Payton and all of that — it was just like, ‘Wow, this is a big deal.’ And so, for him to be up again, it’s a big deal.
“More importantly, the money that goes back to the winner would be huge for The Thielen Foundation, and we could just expand even more and help that many more people in our communities.”
While winning the award would be a major boost to the foundation’s goals, Thielen is simply honored to be among the nominees. And perhaps most importantly, he feels privileged to serve his home state and his adopted one for as long as he can.
“We believe that God placed us here for a reason, and that we want to make an impact in the communities that are making an impact on us,” Thielen said. “And so Charlotte has been a piece of our life that we’re very thankful for, this organization as well, and so we want to make an impact where there’s been impact in our lives.”
The Walter Payton award winner will be announced on Feb. 6 during the NFL Honors event. The awards ceremony will be televised on FOX and NFL Network.
