From undrafted free agent to NFL record-breaker
In short: In 2013, Adam Thielen was an undrafted free agent who didn't even receive an invitation to the NFL Combine. Yet, the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver would go on to rewrite the record books, including a historic streak of consecutive 100-yard receiving games that placed him alongside legends.
Thielen's journey to the NFL was far from a guaranteed success. After playing college football for the Minnesota State Mavericks, he bypassed the NFL Combine entirely, instead showcasing his speed at a Regional Combine in Chicago. His performance in the three-cone drill—clocking 6.77 seconds—was a mark that would have ranked him in the top 20 at a standard NFL Combine. Despite being undrafted, he signed a three-year, $1.48 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings on May 6, 2013.
His ascent was marked by versatility and sudden dominance. In his early years, he was a standout on special teams, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week 13 honors in 2014 after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown. By 2016, he was an offensive powerhouse, recording a 202-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That season, he became part of the first Vikings duo to have two receivers with 900 yards each since the legendary pairing of Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
Thielen's most remarkable feat came during the 2018 season. No player in the Super Bowl era had previously achieved five straight 100-yard receiving outings to open a season until he did. He later pushed that run to seven matches, setting a new NFL benchmark for consecutive 100-yard starts to a season. This remarkable run cemented his legacy as a premier wide receiver, moving from an overlooked rookie to a Pro Bowl selection and a name etched in the NFL record books.
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