Adam Thielen

Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide Receiver
Age: 35y-6m-27d (Aug 22, 1990)
Exp: 12 Years
College: Minnesota-Mankato
Drafted: Undrafted, MIN, 2013
Agent(s): Blake Baratz (The Institute for Athletes)
RETIRED

2025-2025 renegotiation

Adam Thielen signed a 1 year, $8,500,000 contract with the Carolina Panthers, including $2,000,000 signing bonus, $3,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,500,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $8,500,000
Average Salary:
$8,500,000
Signing Bonus:
$2,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$3,500,000
Total GTD:
$3,500,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 35 $1,127,450 0.40% $1,127,450 $1,127,450 $833,335
2026 36
UFA
Accrued Dead Cap
2025 35 $3,813,718 1.37% $3,813,718 - -
2025 35 $3,417,000 1.22% $1,750,000 - -
2026 36 $3,334,000 1.11% - - -
Year Age Base P5 Salary Active/GM Roster Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 35 $833,335 $294,115 $1,127,450 0.40% $833,335
2026 36
UFA
Accrued Dead Cap
2025 35 $2,166,665 $647,053 $3,813,718 1.37% -
2025 35 - - $3,417,000 1.22% -
2026 36 - - $3,334,000 1.11% -
Year Age Base P5 Salary Active/Gm Roster Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 35 $833,335 $294,115 $1,127,450 $1,127,450 $6,691,168
Retained/Dead Cash
2025 35 $2,166,665 $647,053 $3,813,718 - $3,813,718
2025 35 - - $1,750,000 - $1,750,000
2026 36 - - - - -
Contract Notes
  • 2025 Roster Bonus: $1.5M (March 18, 2025)
  • Per Game Active Bonus: $58,823 ($1M)
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2025 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $25,000,000
Average Salary:
$8,333,333
Signing Bonus:
$8,335,000
GTD at Sign:
$14,000,000
Total GTD:
$14,000,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2019-2024 Extension

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $64,200,000
Average Salary:
$16,050,000
Signing Bonus:
$9,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$14,105,000
Total GTD:
$33,000,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2017-2020 Pending Free Agent Extension

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $19,246,000
Average Salary:
$4,811,500
Signing Bonus:
$4,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$9,646,000
Total GTD:
$9,646,000
Free Agent:
2021 / UFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2016-2016 Restricted Tender

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $600,000
Average Salary:
$600,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2017 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2014-2015

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $930,000
Average Salary:
$465,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2016 / ERFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2013-2015 undrafted

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $1,485,000
Average Salary:
$495,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2016 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Adam Thielen's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
Seasons

12 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$89,915,806

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2014 24
Active
$420,000
$420,000
2015 25
Active
$682,306
$1,102,306
2016 26
Active
$939,639
$2,041,945
2017 27
Active
$7,496,000
$9,537,945
2018 28
Active
$5,350,000
$14,887,945
2019 29
Active
$14,273,750
$29,161,695
2020 30
Active
$10,034,374
$39,196,069
2021 31
Injured
$11,582,343
$50,778,412
2022 32
Active
$14,353,529
$65,131,941
2023 33
Active
$10,000,000
$75,131,941
2024 34
Active
$8,092,697
$83,224,638
2025 35
Retained
Retained
Active
$3,813,718
$1,750,000
$1,127,450
$87,038,356
$88,788,356
$89,915,806
Total      
$89,915,806
$87,038,356
$88,788,356
$89,915,806
Total
$89,915,806

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $21,251,194 $22,000,000 $10,944,843 $11,000,000 $450,000 $2,652,569 $68,945,659
3 $6,665,000 $8,335,000 $3,500,000 - $500,000 $48,579 $19,842,697
1 $833,335 - - - - - $1,127,450
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2014
24
$420,000
$420,000
$420,000
2015
25
$510,000
$172,306
$682,306
$1,102,306
2016
26
$600,000
$339,639
$939,639
$2,041,945
2017
27
$2,746,000
$4,000,000
$750,000
$7,496,000
$9,537,945
2018
28
$3,850,000
$100,000
$50,000
$1,350,000
$5,350,000
$14,887,945
2019
29
$805,000
$9,000,000
$4,368,750
$100,000
$14,273,750
$29,161,695
2020
30
$4,800,000
$5,093,750
$100,000
$40,624
$10,034,374
$39,196,069
2021
31
$1,100,000
$10,000,000
$382,343
$100,000
$11,582,343
$50,778,412
2022
32
$4,253,529
$9,000,000
$1,000,000
$100,000
$14,353,529
$65,131,941
2023
33
$1,165,000
$8,335,000
$10,000,000
$75,131,941
2024
34
$5,500,000
$2,000,000
$250,000
$48,579
$8,092,697
$83,224,638
2025
35
$2,166,665
$833,335
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$250,000
$3,813,718
$1,750,000
$1,127,450
$87,038,356
$88,788,356
$89,915,806
Total
$28,749,529
$30,335,000
$11,000,000
$14,444,843
$950,000
$2,701,148
$89,915,806
$87,038,356
$88,788,356
$89,915,806
Total
$28,749,529
$30,335,000
$11,000,000
$14,444,843
$950,000
$2,701,148
$89,915,806

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $21,251,194 $22,000,000 $10,944,843 $11,000,000 $450,000 $2,652,569 $68,945,659
3 $6,665,000 $8,335,000 $3,500,000 - $500,000 $48,579 $19,842,697
1 $833,335 - - - - - $1,127,450

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2024 CAR 4 - 10 Hamstring
2021 MIN 17 - 18 Ankle
2020 MIN 12 - 12 COVID-19
  • Jan 15, 2026 Retired from Professional Football
  • Dec 02, 2025 Claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Dec 01, 2025 Waived by Minnesota (MIN)
  • Aug 27, 2025 Traded to Minnesota (MIN) from Carolina (CAR) with 2026 7th round pick and 2027 5th round pick for 2027 4th round pick and 2026 5th round pick
  • Mar 13, 2025 Signed a 1 year $8.5 million restructured contract with Carolina (CAR)
  • Mar 19, 2023 Signed a 3 year $25 million contract with Carolina (CAR)
  • Mar 10, 2023 Released by Minnesota (MIN), clearing $6.4M of cap
  • Mar 16, 2022 Signed a restructure contract with Minnesota, clearing $5.16M of cap space
  • Mar 18, 2021 Converted $10M of 2021 salary into bonus, clearing $7.5M of cap with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Apr 12, 2019 Signed a 4 year $64 million contract extension with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 15, 2017 Signed a 4 year $19.246 million contract extension with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 04, 2017 Assigned a 1 year $2.746 million tender by Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 07, 2016 Signed a 1 year $600k tender with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Dec 30, 2013 Signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Aug 31, 2013 Waived by Minnesota (MIN)
  • May 06, 2013 Signed a 3 year $1.485 million contract with Minnesota (MIN)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Rec Receptions Rec Yards Rec Touchdowns Fum
2025 PIT 16 7 387 37.54 19 186 0 0
2024 CAR 10 10 429 41.53 48 615 5 0
2023 CAR 17 17 1,046 91.12 103 1,014 4 2
2022 MIN 17 17 1,042 89.21 70 716 6 0
2021 MIN 13 13 758 66.49 67 726 10 1
2020 MIN 15 15 926 85.58 74 925 14 0
2019 MIN 10 10 443 42.80 30 418 6 0
2018 MIN 16 16 1,011 96.20 113 1,373 9 1
2017 MIN 16 16 1,034 92.50 91 1,276 4 3
2016 MIN 16 10 787 79.30 69 967 5 2
2015 MIN 16 2 218 21.30 12 144 0 0
2014 MIN 16 2 150 14.60 8 137 1 0
Top