Vikings Legends C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen met with reporters and members of their families Thursday at the TCO Performance Center, to reflect on their careers and retire from playing in the NFL with the Vikings.
Ham, who played 10 seasons as the Vikings fullback from 2016-25, appeared in 141 games during his career. He finished with 42 carries for 119 yards and six rushing touchdowns, along with 84 receptions for 681 yards and two scores. He was also a key contributor on special teams, posting 54 tackles and a blocked punt.
An undrafted free agent out of Augustana, Ham became a four-time team captain and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2019 and 2023. He was named the Vikings’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Club Winner in both 2024 and 2025.
Thielen, a Detroit Lakes native who played collegiately at Minnesota State, Mankato, spent 13 seasons in the NFL and totaled 704 receptions for 8,497 yards and 64 touchdowns. He played 10 seasons with the Vikings from 2013-22 before stints with the Carolina Panthers (2023-24), Minnesota earlier in the 2025 season and Pittsburgh later that year.
Thielen finished his Vikings tenure ranked second in games played by a wide receiver (146), third in touchdown receptions (55), fourth in catches (542) and fifth in receiving yards (6,751). A Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and 2018, he also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2017 after posting 1,276 receiving yards.
Thielen was twice named a Walter Payton Man of the Year Club Winner, receiving the recognition with the Vikings in 2022 and the Panthers in 2023.
Both players spoke Thursday about their careers, their connection to Minnesota and the impact the organization had on their lives.