Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham, two of Minnesota's most recognizable Vikings, officially wrapped up their playing days together at a joint retirement ceremony inside the team’s TCO Performance Center auditorium in Eagan. The longtime teammates, who first squared off as high school opponents, spent the afternoon swapping stories, cracking jokes, and thanking family members, former coaches, and past teammates.
Joint Send-off At Vikings Headquarters
The pair shared a joint news conference on Thursday, March 19, at the TCO Performance Center auditorium, where the team honored both players and played a short tribute message from co-owner Mark Wilf, according to Vikings.com. Video from the event shows Thielen and Ham reflecting on careers that started as long-shot tryouts and ended with each of them in leadership roles on and off the field.
Thielen’s Career In Brief
Adam Thielen announced his retirement in January after 13 NFL seasons and steps away with more than 700 career receptions and roughly 8,500 receiving yards, according to The Score. Thielen, who repeatedly said he always hoped to finish his career as a Viking, returned to Minnesota briefly in 2025 before seeking a larger role late in the season.
C.J. Ham’s Steady Climb
C.J. Ham, 32, retired this offseason after a decade with the Vikings and was widely praised as a consummate teammate, a four-time team captain, and a core special-teams contributor, according to the Star Tribune. The paper notes that Ham appeared in 141 games for Minnesota, underwent offseason ankle surgery and a midseason hand operation, and missed six games in his final year while weighing whether it was time to walk away.
Old Friends On The Podium
The tone on stage stayed loose more often than not. Thielen called Ham “a lifelong friend,” while Ham joked that retirement would let him trade 6 a.m. workouts for 7 p.m. basketball runs, according to the team’s video coverage. Both said they plan to stay active in the community and spend more time with their families now that football is in the rearview mirror.
What They Leave Behind
Their impact shows up on the stat sheet as well as in the highlight reels. Thielen and Ham finished with the second and third most games played by undrafted offensive players in Vikings history, trailing only Hall of Famer Mick Tingelhoff, a milestone the Star Tribune highlighted. On Thursday, the club celebrated both men as hometown success stories, players who climbed from walk-on and tryout status to become team leaders and community ambassadors.
