In the fall of 2013, the list of people who knew who he was pretty much limited to friends, family and those associated with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Five years later, he would be in the discussion of best wide receivers in the NFL and there’s now plenty of interest in Adam Thielen football cards.
The Minnesota Vikings’ homegrown star comes from humble beginnings but he is now the first player in the Super Bowl era to open the season with seven straight 100-yard games.
The Thielen File
An excellent high school athlete but not on anyone’s list of three or four-star recruits, he received only one last minute scholarship offer ($500 plus books).
He took it.
Thielen had a great college career, but you wouldn’t have seen him play on a regular basis unless you lived in Mankato, MN.
At Minnesota State, he did enough to earn a peek from NFL scouts at a regional combine (paying $250 for the privilege) but went undrafted in 2013. His home state Vikings signed him to the practice squad and that’s where he stayed until earning a roster spot with stellar special teams play. Continuing to work at his craft and impressing the coaching staff, he made the most of a new opportunity and had a breakout season in 2016 with 69 catches.
In 2017, Thielen piled up over 1,000 receiving yards, made the Pro Bowl for the first time and was ranked among the top 40 players in the league by NFL.com.
With Kirk Cousins aboard in 2018, Thielen’s numbers took another step forward. He totaled 1,000 yards in his first seven games and was on his way to a new season high in receiving yards.
Thielen Rookie Cards
If you want a player to collect who doesn’t have a huge volume of rookie cards, Thielen might be your guy. Without much of a history, he was skipped on most of the early season checklists during what’s considered his rookie season of 2016. His first card was actually in a Panini Instant issue after he enjoyed a big day during Week 5 but demand was limited and only 166 base cards were created. He had another Instant card late in the year.
Thielen’s only 2016 issues–and the first certified autographs of his career–arrived with 2016 Panini Contenders and Select. Rookie Ticket autos from Contenders have been climbing since the end of last season and now typically sell for $300 and up. You’ll also find multiple Adam Thielen cards in Select, a die-cut heavy product.
Post-Rookie Autos and More
Panini chased down more autographs from the new Vikings star for its 2017 products. You’ll find his signature inside products like Select, Illusions, Certified, Absolute and National Treasures and unsigned, low serial numbered cards in Flawless.
Thielen’s success now means you’ll find him on most new product checklists. In fact, he’s in most sets now–from very affordable issues to high-end products. Many of his base cards can still be found for just a few dollars. Others are in demand and wind up on the auction block.
Below is a live list of the ‘most watched’ Adam Thielen cards on eBay.
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