EAGAN, Minn. — Adam Thielen may have decided to hang up his cleats, but his commitment to the community has never been stronger.
ESPN on Monday announced its nominees for the 2026 Sports Humanitarian Awards — which includes the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award, Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year and the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award — and Thielen is one of three finalists for the latter. He joins Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
"Being nominated for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, and now to be a finalist, is incredibly humbling," Thielen said. "It's an honor to be included in the same conversation as Steph and Damar, who make such a difference in the communities they work with. Though our goal is to not receive recognition, it's a blessing to be able to share the support and impact this community is making in the lives of so many kids throughout Minnesota."
A Minnesota native who joined the Vikings on a tryout basis in 2013, Thielen spent most of his 12-season NFL career in Purple. He not only made a tremendous on-field impact but also focused consistently on giving back to his home state.
View photos of Vikings WR Adam Thielen through the years participating in Thielen Foundation events. Thielen has been nominated as the Vikings 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Adam Thielen, WR
Organization: Thielen Foundation
Cause: Youth enrichment and mental health
Adam and his wife Caitlin launched the Thielen Foundation in 2018 to help serve, educate and inspire those in need. With an overarching theme on youth development, the foundation aims to create programs that will equip and empower kids to reach their full potential.
The Thielen family has made youth mental health and wellness the cornerstone of its philanthropic mission. Thielen Foundation is dedicated to removing economic, social and emotional barriers for young people by investing in mental health resources, youth sports access, education and community wellness initiatives. Thielen has demonstrated a sustained commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children and families across underserved communities.
To date, the Thielen Foundation has invested more than $4.6 million in nonprofit organizations and programs focused on improving youth wellness and expanding access to sports and education. The foundation's impact includes supporting behavioral health programming and therapeutic spaces at University of Minnesota M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, funding athletic facility upgrades and scholarships at Brooklyn Center High School and restoring community gathering spaces that help bring young people together through sport.
In addition to his work through the foundation, Thielen has continued contributing to other causes, including mentoring and coaching young people and visiting children's hospital patients. He most recently served as a coach at last week's ESPN Unified Sports Challenge, guiding and encouraging a 14-year-old Special Olympics Minnesota athlete and his Unified Partner through a series of sports-themed challenges.
View photos taken by T Walter Rouse and RB Zavier Scott during the 2026 UNRL Celebrity Softball Game hosted by Vikings Legends Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham.
The Sports Humanitarian Awards will combine with The 2026 ESPYS Presented by Capital One for a week of inspirational programming that showcases service, character and achievement in sports. The ESPYS will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. (CT) on July 15. The show will also stream on ESPN+ on the ESPN App.
Top celebrities from sports and entertainment will come together to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major athletic achievements, reliving unforgettable moments, and saluting the leading performers and performances. The ESPYS help to raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the charity founded by ESPN and the late college basketball coach Jim Valvano at the first ESPYS back in 1993.
