General manager Scott Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich weren’t the only Carolina Panthers with a platform on Monday.
Shortly after the team’s power duo wrapped up their press conferences, the newly signed Adam Thielen joined The Pat McAfee Show for an interview this afternoon. The 32-year-old wide receiver shared some insight into his decision, one that initially didn’t include Carolina.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really planning on going to the Panthers,” he said. “Went on a visit there just to hear ’em out. ‘Cause I wanted to go somewhere that I felt like I had an opportunity to win a Super Bowl. And when I went there—I sat down with Coach, I sat down with the GM, I sat down with all the coaching staff. And I felt like Carolina was the place to do that. I feel like there is a real chance to win a Super Bowl. And that gets me so excited.”
Thielen agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal on Sunday night. But before he did, he revealed a few other teams that were in on him.
“Well, I think there was the Broncos, Cowboys,” he said. “I had conversations with those teams and a few others. And, again, the Panthers just felt like the best fit and it all kinda just worked it.”
2023 will fit the former Minnesota Viking into his 10th NFL season. He comes into Carolina having amassed 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns on 534 receptions dating back to 2014.