But it is a tryout in the sense that you’re on the same field with the guys who got drafted. While many have coined Adam’s journey to the NFL as a Cinderella story, his path to success and reaching his full potential is the result of unswerving perseverance, determination and faith.

I wasn’t on any NFL teams’ radars. It was my first 100-yard receiving game, and I scored my second career touchdown.

It was May 2013, and my senior year of football at Minnesota State–Mankato had ended a few months earlier. Adam Thielen. For his efforts, Thielen was named NSIC South Division All-NSIC First Team, the Daktronics Super Region No. I made it.

I sat up in my chair and my buddies stood up and leaned over behind me, scanning the page for my 40 time … and there it was: I jumped out of that desk chair for the first time all night.

So I decided that I would start training, but at the same time, I’d also look around for other jobs in case it didn’t work out.

If I was going to go for it, I needed a backup plan.

But in 2013, as a member of the Vikings’ practice squad, I got the chance to play on that turf, in a Vikings uniform, during the preseason. I got to wear a Vikings uniform to work every day, which — I don’t know about you, but for me, it sure beats a suit and tie.

[43] The Vikings won the NFC North with a 13–3 record. It all amounted to something.

[41] This put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images.

[63] After the game, Thielen was very critical of Vikings' quarterback Kirk Cousins, saying, "It's so frustrating, it's unbelievable." It amounted to me being able to execute and make plays to the point where they actually had to cut somebody they had already made a financial commitment to, just to make sure they locked me in.

So I put on a suit and tie and went in for an interview.

I didn’t want it to end.

[45] In the NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had three receptions for 28 yards in the 38–7 loss. You’re competing against guys who are fighting to make the team — some who will definitely make the team — and the coaches are watching. After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft and the odds seemingly stacked against him, Adam kept his head down and trained rigorously to give NFL scouts a reason to turn their heads. But looking back now, I realize that when I watched them play, I never really thought about what it probably took for those guys to make it to that level — or what it would take for, At the combine, I ran the 40, did some drills, lifted some weights and got measured.