Adam Thielen Nominated For NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year

(Photo: Alli Rusco/Minnesota Vikings)

(KDLM) – Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and Detroit Lakes native Adam Thielen has been nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Thielen has also been named the 2022 Minnesota Vikings Community Man of the Year on Tuesday morning.

In addition to his on-field success with the Vikings, Thielen’s legacy off the field is equally impressive. Thielen has been involved with numerous health organizations, charities, and non-profits, including Children’s Minnesota Hospital, Urban Ventures, Second Harvest Heartland/Minnesota Central Kitchen, The Salvation Army, Masonic Children’s Hospital, and more.

“Adam and Caitlin’s commitment and willingness to give back and serve Minnesotans through the Thielen Foundation is truly inspiring,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. “We are proud of Adam for the impact he has made on the community, and he is the best representation of what the Minnesota Vikings should stand for. We cannot thank him enough for his commitment to the organization, to the Twin Cities, and to the entire state of Minnesota. He’s extremely deserving to be our 2022 nominee for this impressive honor.”

“Adam Thielen is consistent in the best possible ways.” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. “The human being, the teammate he is to these guys, the friend he’s become to me and the guy that, shoot, he sees me sometimes at my lowest moments,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes they’re after wins, sometimes they’re after losses, and I see Adam Thielen and he smiles at me and says, ‘Coach, it’s gonna be all right.’ And that’s when we’re 10-2, so you can imagine what it would be like going the other way. But I say all that just to say, I absolutely love Adam Thielen.”

After being signed to the Vikings practice squad as an undrafted free agent in 2013, Thielen has claimed the Vikings all-time receiving list. He enters Week 14 with 520 career receptions (third in Vikings history), 6,546 receiving yards (fourth) and 52 touchdown catches (tied for third).