Dolphins Arrange HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh
The Dolphins were recently among the teams to request an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as well as 49ers DC Robert Saleh. Both in-demand staffers will speak with Miami. 
Minter and Saleh will conduct interviews with the Dolphins today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both will take place virtually, per NFL rules. Three other candidates have already interviewed once with Miami, and another will do so this weekend.
The Dolphins continue to widen their search for one of the eight remaining head coaching vacancies around the league (presuming John Harbaugh‘s Giants deal winds up being finalized as expected). Miami’s most recent process resulted in a highly-regarded Kyle Shanahan staffer taking over (Mike McDaniel). The team could wind up taking a similar route by hiring Saleh, who returned to San Francisco in 2025 following the end of his Jets head coaching tenure.
Saleh’s unit has dealt with a slew of injuries this season but it has helped bring the 49ers to the divisional round of the playoffs. San Francisco’s D-coordinator from 2017-20 during his first stint with the team, Saleh would provide the Dolphins or any other suitor with an experienced presence on the sidelines. The 46-year-old is also one of the top candidates to have served as a head coach at the NFL level.
Minter, meanwhile, has received an interview request from every team seeking a new head coach. That comes as little surprise, but it underscores the competition Miami could face in a potential bidding war for his services. The Dolphins’ opening was recently reported to be seen as less attractive than others around the league. It will be interesting to see if that impacts the choices made by some of the top candidates as they weigh their options.
A defensive coordinator with multiple college teams, Minter has held that role with the Chargers for the past two years. His success in that capacity has landed him firmly in the conversation to become a head coach during the 2026 hiring cycle. Quarterback uncertainty looms over the Dolphins right now, but Minter, 42, would primarily be tasked with overseeing the team’s defense in the event he were to land the HC gig.
Here is an updated look at Miami’s search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): To interview 1/19
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/15
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kelvin Sheppard, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
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Steelers Submit HC Interview Request For Ejiro Evero
The Steelers are slightly behind other teams in terms of seeking out candidates for their head coaching vacancy. They continue to move quickly in establishing a list of initial targets, though. 
Pittsburgh has requested an interview with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That represents the fifth active NFL DC to receive a slip from the Steelers. Owner Art Rooney II left the door open to a deviation in approach with respect to finding Mike Tomlin‘s replacement during yesterday’s remarks, but for now a blueprint appears to be in place which is similar to previous Pittsburgh searches.
Tomlin, just like Bill Cowher and Chuck Noll before him, was a young coaching candidate with a defensive background at the time of his hire. No member of that trio had been a head coach at the NFL level when they took charge of the Steelers. Evero fits the same profile, and it will be interesting to see if he or another one of the staffers in a similar position emerges as a finalist.
Evero signed an extension with the Panthers prior to the start of the 2025 campaign. The 45-year-old can be expected to continue his Carolina tenure into next season and beyond as a result, unless of course he lands a head coaching opportunity. Evero has received interview requests from the Falcons and Raiders as part of their ongoing searches. Interest on the Steelers’ part has now emerged as well, confirming Evero’s status as one of the top defensive coaches on the market.
After one season as the Broncos’ DC, Evero took the same position in Carolina. Results have varied over the past three seasons, with Carolina undergoing a number of roster changes during that span. In 2023, though, Evero’s unit ranked fourth in the league in points allowed. The Panthers finished mid-pack in both total and scoring defense this season en route to a postseason appearance.
Here is an updated look at where things stand early in the Steelers’ search:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
Lions To Conduct Zac Robinson OC Interview; Team Requests Arthur Smith Meeting
The Lions‘ search for a new offensive coordinator continues to expand. Current Falcons OC Zac Robinson is the latest candidate to line up an interview. 
Robinson will speak with Detroit today about the position, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That makes two teams interested in his case. The Buccaneers have already interviewed Robinson for their OC opening. With a Todd Monken reunion seemingly unlikely, Tampa Bay could show continued interest in his case.
The Falcons in the process of finding a new head coach and general manager. Once Raheem Morris‘ replacement is in place, several new staffers will no doubt be brought in. Knowing a change of scenery is likely, Robinson is exploring his options on the coaching market. A Lions agreement would make plenty of sense in his case.
From 2019-23, Robinson worked on the Rams’ staff. That time included a pair of seasons working alongside quarterback Jared Goff. A Detroit hire would thus pave the way for a reunion between Robinson and Goff with the Lions looking to rebound from a poor showing during John Morton‘s one-and-done campaign in the offensive coordinator role.
Detroit is also among the teams interested in Arthur Smith. An interview request has been submitted for the Steelers OC, Rapoport reports. Smith has been connected to multiple head coaching openings, but a lateral move to a new coordinator gig could be in store as well. Pittsburgh will have a new head coach relatively soon, so considerable movement elsewhere on the staff is likely.
Smith’s tenure as head coach of the Falcons produced three straight 7-10 seasons, but it was preceded by a Titans OC gig which boosted his stock. For the past two seasons, the 43-year-old has called plays for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has finished 16th and 15th in scoring during Smith’s time with the team. Stronger production would be expected in the case of the Lions, a team which flourished under Ben Johnson and is looking to duplicate his level of success.
Detroit has previously been linked to Jake Peetz and Tee Martin as OC candidates. The Lions have also set up interviews with former head coaches in the form of Mike McDaniel and Mike Kafka. Robinson’s meeting will add to the list of targets, and it will be interesting to see if Smith pursues an interview amongst head coaching interest.
Giants Likely To Hire Todd Monken As OC
The Giants are poised to become the first team to make an official head coaching hire in 2026. John Harbaugh is finalizing an agreement to head to New York. 
Once that takes place, attention will turn to Harbaugh’s staffing choices. He is naturally expected to being a number of Ravens coaches with him, and that includes a likely offensive coordinator transition. Todd Monken is a strong target of Harbaugh’s, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. A Monken agreement is expected to make him the team’s next offensive coordinator, which would come as no surprise.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo confirms Monken is the “frontrunner” for New York’s OC spot at this point. Nothing is finalized at this time, with a formal search required before a hire can be made. Once Harbaugh is officially in place, he will also have to make a decision on the fate of interim head coach Mike Kafka, who served as the Giants’ offensive coordinator prior to Brian Daboll‘s firing. Brining in Monken would presumably lead Kafka elsewhere as the coaching landscape takes shape.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Monken – who is still under contract with the Ravens for now – “expects” to be offered the OC gig in New York. Notably, Stroud adds that Harbaugh and Monken have not spoken with each other since news of the pending Giants deal broke in Harbaugh’s case. Discussions between the two should be expected shortly. Of course, other options have been explored by Monken aside from the strong possibility of following Harbaugh to his next destination.
The Browns conducted an interview with Monken last week for their head coaching vacancy. A reunion with the Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator has also been floated, with an interview being arranged recently. Between the Harbaugh news and today’s updates, however, it would come as a surprise if Monken did not find himself guiding the Giants’ offense in 2026.
A young core led by quarterback Jaxson Dart appealed to Harbaugh and played a role in the mutual interest which was seen between team and coach leading up to their agreement. Provided he takes on OC duties, Monken will be tasked with overseeing Dart’s second year and his development alongside the likes of wideout Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. An agreement on that front would leave one of the most experienced coordinator candidates off the market for other suitors.
John Harbaugh Expected To Become Giants’ Next HC, Pending Finalized Agreement
It appears the first domino in this year’s head coaching hiring cycle is tumbling over. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, John Harbaugh and the Giants are “working to finalize an agreement to make him New York’s next head coach.” Barring any setbacks, the deal is expected to happen as Schefter claims that “Harbaugh is ready to accept the Giants’ deal, and the team is expected to hire him as soon as possible.” 
Schefter made sure to make room for such a setback, nothing that “the deal is not final, and contract numbers still are being negotiated,” citing a source who claimed that “there still is a lot to work through.” Nothing’s certain until i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, but SportsNet New York’s Connor Hughes and Paul Schwartz of The New York Post both appear confident enough in the direction things are heading to say in some form or fashion that the Giants got their guy.
Harbaugh had an appointment set in the morning to meet with the Titans at his home for an in-person interview and later intended to do the same with the Falcons, but it appears that is no longer the case. With Harbaugh’s attention shifting now to hammering out the details of his imminent contract with the Giants, competing teams have been informed of his decision, likely meaning that those plans to meet have been cancelled.
Even before the moment Harbaugh became available following his dismissal after 18 years in Baltimore, the Giants were deeply interested in the prospect of him becoming their next head coach. After he was officially let go, New York immediately made it known that he was the frontrunner, in their eyes, to replace Brian Daboll in the head coaching position. What ensued was a full-court press starting from Day 1, as the next day, reports indicated that the franchise was “all-in” on landing the 62-year-old’s services.
After getting let go so unexpectedly, Harbaugh intended to take his time as the NFL’s most eligible bachelor. He took the week to gather information from interested parties but made it known that he didn’t intend to start doing any interviews until the following week. While the Falcons were the first team to officially interview Harbaugh, getting to him virtually, the Giants were close on their heels and the first to make contact in-person whenever he finally did make himself available. Board director and senior player personnel executive Chris Mara met Harbaugh for lunch the Sunday before the week began.
The Falcons, Giants, and Titans were all listed as initial frontrunners in the race to land Harbaugh’s signature. Atlanta’s new president of football Matt Ryan had a surprising connection with Harbaugh that drew his interest in that direction. In Tennessee, a young first-round quarterback overflowing with potential and surrounded by an incredible amount of cap space made the Titans an attractive option, as well. New York, though, continued to press Harbaugh with promises of everything he could want: salary, roster control, a young first-round quarterback of their own, also filled with potential.
This morning, it was announced that New York, the most aggressive team in this pursuit, would be hosting Harbaugh with in-person interviews with the Titans and Falcons to follow. It all started with team co-owner Steve Tisch sending his private plane to fly Harbaugh to New Jersey. What followed was an over-five-hour tour that allowed Harbaugh to meet with quarterback Jaxson Dart, the team’s other co-owner John Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, and several other members of the team’s front office. Harbaugh was even bombarded with phone calls from notable Giants alumni, including former quarterback Eli Manning, former head coach Tom Coughlin, and even recently fired coach Daboll, who “raved about his experience in the organization.”
Hughes pointed out that lots of offseason talk seemed to indicate that Schoen’s presence in New York would be a deterrent for a top coaching prospect like Harbaugh, but Schoen appears to be a major part of this potential deal getting this far. Schoen notably assured Harbaugh that he’s willing to cede some power for personnel decision-making to allow the head coach to have more say in roster decisions.
At the end of their day together, Harbaugh boarded his flight home to Baltimore, where he expected to be leaving for soon to meet with Tennessee in the morning. However, the Giants opted to step up their full-court press with an all-out blitz in the final moments. They gave their final pitches, made their best offers, and stalled Harbaugh’s plane for about two hours, making a major push to land their white whale. Ultimately, Harbaugh departed on that plane without having agreed to anything, but vibes in the building were still extremely positive in the wake of his departure. 
It appears the full-court press did not end there, though, as these most recent reports broke to indicate Harbaugh would be withdrawing himself from consideration from other jobs to work towards finalizing a deal with New York. NFL insider Jordan Schultz claims the team will end up putting Harbaugh among the highest-paid coaches in NFL history, while Hughes notes that the team’s investment doesn’t stop there. The Giants are reportedly sparing no expense as they’ve also promised Harbaugh “the budget he needs to round out his staff as he sees fit.”
The Giants swung for the fences in their pursuit of Harbaugh, at times seeming embarrassingly forward in making their intentions known, but it all seems to be paying off, and it’s clear why they tried so hard. After seeing Coughlin lead the team for 12 years, the team ran through Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Daboll all over the next 10. According to Hughes, following the dismissal of Daboll, Schoen and the team made a list of traits they were looking for in their next head coach that required them to be a leader of men, be capable of captivating the locker room and rallying players, and be capable of restoring accountability amongst the players and staff. They have to feel good about how many boxes Harbaugh checks off there.
As for Harbaugh, he was dismissed from a team full of talent that continues to struggle to find its full potential — by the way, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes that Giants aren’t scheduled to meet the Ravens until the 2028 NFL season. He now finds himself on another team rife with talent. On the shoulders of Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and defensive ends Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, the Giants feel like they have a group of cornerstone franchise players, and it now looks like they have a coach to lead them.
Oregon QB Dante Moore Will Not Enter 2026 NFL Draft
Quarterback Dante Moore will not enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Moore announced on Wednesday that he will return to Oregon for his junior season.
This is a major blow to teams aiming to use a high pick on a quarterback in this year’s draft. Before Moore decided to stay in school, he and Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller, Fernando Mendoza, were considered locks to go near the top of the draft. With Moore out of the picture, Mendoza is undoubtedly the No. 1 option heading into the proceedings. It seems likely the Raiders will take him first overall.
The Jets (second), Cardinals (third) and Browns (sixth) are other clubs that could conceivably choose a QB in the top 10, but the likelihood of that has decreased with Moore remaining at Oregon. Moore’s NIL valuation checks in at approximately $2.3MM, per On3. That surely made it easier for Moore to delay his NFL career, though he may be leaving a substantial amount of money on the table for the time being. Regardless, the 20-year-old could benefit from further seasoning at the college level.
Before jumping to the pros in 2027, Moore will aim to build on a breakout campaign in which he completed 71.8% of passes and threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Moore guided Oregon to a 13-2 record, but Mendoza’s Hoosiers ended the Ducks’ season with a 56-22 blowout in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Moore, whom ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked as the second-best prospect in this year’s class, may end up as part of a deeper group of draft-eligible QBs next year. Texas’ Arch Manning and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers represent other potential high picks in 2027. Meanwhile, it’s unknown if any QBs other than Mendoza will come off the board in the first round this year. Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss, who now round out Kiper’s top three prospects at the position, are among names to watch. Unfortunately for teams in dire need of a franchise QB, neither looks like a slam-dunk first-rounder right now.
Teams Contact Steelers On Mike Tomlin’s Rights; Tomlin Not Planning To Coach In 2026
As the Saints’ Sean Payton situation reminded earlier this decade, a coach stepping away while under contract can be valuable to a team. New Orleans fetched first- and second-round picks from Denver in a 2023 trade for Payton’s rights. The Steelers will be in a similar position after Mike Tomlin‘s exit.
Teams are already seeing if a Tomlin trade is viable. Clubs have reached out to the Steelers following Tomlin’s decision to resign, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Calls came in hours after Tomlin’s exit, and while this process should be relevant in the not-too-distant future, Rapoport indicates the interested teams were told Tomlin is not planning to coach in 2026.
[RELATED: Art Rooney II Addresses Steelers’ Post-Tomlin Situation]
One interested team was told Tuesday Tomlin was not planning to take an interview, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson tweets. It appears that view may apply to the full 2026 market. Tomlin gave Art Rooney II no indication (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac) he plans to coach in the near future, potentially tabling any trade market for multiple offseasons.
Tomlin, 53, is believed to have drawn interest from CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC for an analyst role. Two years remain on Tomlin’s Steelers contract, something that would need to be revisited if/when Tomlin wants to coach again.
The Steelers have seen this scenario play out before. Bill Cowher walked away after the 2006 season, heading to CBS. Cowher, however, remains with the network nearly two decades later. Cowher was 49 when he stepped down after 15 years as Steelers HC. Tomlin was believed to have having thoughts about walking away before the 2025 season began, and his quick exit following Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss to Houston all but confirmed this has been on the longtime leader’s mind for a while.
A report before the Steelers’ wild-card game indicated TV interest had emerged, with Tomlin having a standing invite from networks if he decided to leave coaching. It will be interesting to see where Tomlin lands. Payton joined FOX shortly after his Saints exit, but rumors about his 2023 destination swirled over the ensuing months. Payton became a coveted coaching commodity on the 2023 carousel, eventually ending up with the Broncos. Payton, 59 when hired in Denver, has led the Broncos to back-to-back playoff berths. His team will debut in these playoffs as the No. 1 seed Saturday.
It took less of a trade package for the Buccaneers to land one-and-done CBS game analyst Bruce Arians in 2019. Tampa Bay sent Arizona a sixth-round pick and collected a seventh in return for the then-66-year-old HC’s rights. Tomlin would fetch more in a swap. While he does not bring a play-calling acumen Payton did, the quotable ex-Steelers leader established one of the highest floors in coaching history by going 19 years without a losing season. Tomlin ventured to 13 playoff brackets, won eight AFC North titles and appeared in two Super Bowls. The Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII, giving Tomlin a strong chance at the Hall of Fame down the road.
While the Steelers could have a chance to recoup notable draft capital for Tomlin’s rights — possibly as soon as 2027 — they must conduct their first coaching search in 19 years. Brian Flores, who stopped through Pittsburgh in 2022 as Tomlin gave him a rebound opportunity as linebackers coach (with his discrimination lawsuit in its early stages), has come up as a name to monitor. The Steelers also looked into Marcus Freeman, but he is staying at Notre Dame.
Rams DC Chris Shula came up as a connected name in Pittsburgh as well, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Shula, 39, has received interview requests from the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, Dolphins, Giants and Titans thus far. The popular candidate could be added in Pittsburgh soon, but no requests have come out. The Steelers have traditionally gone young with their HCs, hiring Tomlin and Cowher at 34.
Steelers Request HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver
The Steelers continue adding candidates in their search for a new head coach. They’ve requested interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Vikings D-coordinator Brian Flores and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, per reports from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Looking for a replacement for Mike Tomlin, whose 19-year run with the franchise ended Tuesday, the Steelers previously sent out interview requests for Rams assistants Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase. Aside from Scheelhaase, all of the Steelers’ early candidates come with a defensive background. The same was true of Tomlin when the Steelers hired him in January 2007.
Minter doesn’t have any head coaching experience, but his strong work as an assistant has made him a hot commodity across the league. All nine teams with a head coaching vacancy have either requested an interview or have conducted one with the 42-year-old, who has effectively teamed with Jim Harbaugh over the past few seasons.
Minter was Harbaugh’s D-coordinator at Michigan from 2022-23. He followed Harbaugh to the Chargers after a national championship-winning campaign with the Wolverines. The Chargers’ defense has ranked near the top of the league in back-to-back seasons under Minter. The unit finished 2024 first in scoring and 11th in yards, and it ranked ninth in scoring and fifth in yards this season.
Flores, who went 24-25 as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-21, was on Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh in 2022. He served as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach that year. Flores then left to run the Vikings’ defense, a group that finished 2025 third in yards and seventh in points. Flores’ contract is now up after three successful seasons, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it known that retaining him is a high priority. However, the Vikings will have to fend off teams that consider Flores a head coaching candidate and others that want him as a defensive coordinator.
Weaver has already held head coaching interviews with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens in the past week. A former defensive lineman with the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08, Weaver has coached with those two teams and the Jets, Bills, Browns and Dolphins since 2012. He was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator from 2024-25, but with head coach Mike McDaniel out, Weaver’s future in Miami is uncertain. Even if the 45-year-old doesn’t leave the Dolphins for a head coaching job, he could be an assistant elsewhere in 2026.
WR Adam Thielen Announces Retirement
Retirement rumors followed Adam Thielen in 2025, and the veteran wide receiver will indeed step away from the game. The 13-year vet announced his retirement Wednesday following a late-season Steelers cameo.
Suiting up with Pittsburgh after a waiver claim, Thielen was with three teams in 2025. The Panthers traded Thielen to the Vikings in August, giving the accomplished pass catcher a chance to return home to a team attempting to follow up its 14-3 campaign with another playoff berth. As that fizzled, Thielen wound up on a postseason-bound club after the Steelers claimed his contract in December.
Once Minnesota moved on, it became known Thielen would retire after the season. He played an auxiliary role in the Steelers’ loss to the Texans on Monday night, catching two passes for 25 yards. Thielen also posted a 1,000-yard season as a Panther in 2023. But he will be best remembered for his contributions in his home state.
Playing 11 seasons with the Vikings, Thielen ranks in the top five in receptions, yardage and touchdown catches with the franchise. His 55 TD grabs as a Viking trail only Cris Carter and Randy Moss in team history. For his career, Thielen caught 64 touchdown passes, adding nine with Carolina. No additional scores came with Pittsburgh, but the former UDFA did carve out a role as Aaron Rodgers searched for tertiary targets alongside D.K. Metcalf.
Starring at Division II Minnesota State, Thielen became one of the most unlikely wide receiver success stories by catching on with the Vikings after a rookie minicamp tryout. Following a 2013 redshirt year of sorts, Thielen became a key player during the Mike Zimmer seasons. After finishing with fewer than 150 receiving yards in 2014 and ’15, Thielen erupted for 967 during Sam Bradford‘s 2016 Minnesota season and sustained that momentum after that year. Thielen eclipsed 1,200 yards in 2017 and ’18, topping out with a career-high 1,373 in Kirk Cousins‘ Vikes debut, and saw his first stint with the franchise last through the 2022 season.
The Vikings gave Thielen two extensions during his initial Twin Cities tenure. Minnesota re-upped Thielen on a four-year, $19.25MM extension in 2017 — after the team had applied a second-round RFA tender. That proved to be incredibly team-friendly, and the Vikings returned to the table to give their then-Stefon Diggs complement a four-year, $64.8MM deal in 2019. The Vikings had both Thielen and Diggs on big-ticket deals in 2019, but they traded the mercurial standout to the Bills in March 2020. Minnesota then added Justin Jefferson as its lead option, but Thielen remained an essential piece in the Cousins-piloted offense.
Thielen combined for 24 TD receptions over Jefferson’s first two seasons, helping Cousins to big numbers (as the QB signed two Vikes extensions). After Kevin O’Connell‘s first season produced a 13-win showing, the Vikings released Thielen upon being unable to agree on a reworked contract. A nice market formed for the street free agent, and the Panthers ponied up $25MM over three years to give their to-be-determined No. 1 overall pick (eventually Bryce Young) a veteran to target. While Carolina missed on some investments during Scott Fitterer‘s final year as GM, Thielen totaled 1,014 receiving yards to lead the woeful 2023 Panthers edition by a wide margin.
Rebuffing trade interest in Thielen in 2024, the Panthers reworked his contract this past year but eventually relented on a trade. They sent Thielen back to Minnesota in a deal that brought a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2026 fifth to Carolina. Thielen being active for more than 10 games in 2025 triggered a condition on the Vikings’ side of the trade; that bumped the 2026 pick Minnesota received to a sixth-rounder. The Vikes also collected a 2027 seventh in the late-summer swap.
Thielen’s second Vikings stint did not offer much of consequence, as Minnesota fell out of contention during a rocky J.J. McCarthy debut season. Thielen surpassed his Minnesota 2.0 output (eight receptions) by catching 11 passes in just five Steelers regular-season games.