Do you miss Adam Thielen yet? He’s been gone from the NFL for about three months, but he could soon be back — as an announcer or analyst.

Thielen’s post-playing future may be pointing toward TV.

The Minnesota Vikings legend is attending “NFL Broadcast Bootcamp,” meaning he’ll probably find a spot as a media member before too long.

A Media Role Could Be Next for the Former Vikings Star

Thielen took a step toward that path last week in Los Angeles.

Thielen Eyes Broadcasting

Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield reported Thielen’s next career path this week, noting, “Last month, the Vikings organization celebrated the amazing careers of C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen. This month, Thielen took a baby step toward what could wind up being a focus in his life after football. Thielen was one of 24 players who got “suited and booted” for the NFL’s annual broadcasting and media workshop in Los Angeles last week.”

“Thielen was picked from a pool of 90 applicants, and he participated alongside the likes of LB Demario Davis and WR Brandin Cooks. Alumni of the workshop include All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew, as well as Super Bowl Champions Jason McCourty and Jason Kelce. Thielen sounded hesitant about a career in media during his retirement ceremony, alluding to the frequent traveling, but he stated his desire to be involved with the game in whatever is next.”

Given Thielen’s reputation for determination and results, this thing might be a shoo-in.

The Athletic‘s Vic Tafur describes Broadcast Bootcamp: “It’s tough to get a spot at the workshop, which was first held in 2007. There were 90 applicants for 24 spots in this year’s program. Each player was asked to answer questions to make sure this is something he is serious about and then asked to submit reels.”

“Some players sent in old interviews at their lockers. They were told this was their chance to be their own content creator and their reels should reflect what they want to do in the space. After the reels were screened, players were ranked 1-90, with no clear-cut criteria.”

The Playing Career with Vikings

Thielen’s Vikings stats speak for themselves: 542 catches, 6,751 yards, and 55 touchdowns in Minnesota. The numbers place him among the franchise’s all-time greats, ranking him third in receiving touchdowns, fourth in receptions, and fifth in receiving yards.

However, his path to those achievements was unconventional. After earning a tryout with the Vikings in 2013, he transformed that opportunity into a decade-long career with his hometown team. By 2018, he had become one of the league’s premier receivers, quickly developing a rapport with Kirk Cousins and establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most dependable targets.

His story continues to resonate with fans: small-town roots and a state-school background. He’s the quintessential Minnesota underdog. During his peak years, that underdog consistently earned Pro Bowl consideration, including two official Pro Bowl nods (2017, 2018).

A Disappointing Exit Strategy

Of course, not all stories have spotless happy endings. The Vikings traded for Thielen last summer, a deal centered around a 4th-Round pick with the Carolina Panthers. The price felt steep at the time, and the feeling was vindicated. Thielen has clearly lost a step — hit a wall even — and Minnesota didn’t use him much on offense.

The drought wore on Thielen, so much so that he requested his release in November 2025, which the Vikings granted, and Thielen parleyed it into a contract with Aaron Rodgers’ Pittsburgh Steelers.

Thielen caught 11 passes for 117 yards in five Steelers games before retiring, in addition to appearing in a blowout playoff loss against the Houston Texans. While time will obviously heal the wound, some fans considered Thielen’s demand for a release rather bizarre. Wasn’t the whole point of the summer trade to retire with the Vikings? Evidently not.

Thankfully, Thielen is so beloved that few will care about the Steelers chapters five years from now.

The Ben Leber Route

Klefield also claimed that Thielen will do some work for the Vikings’ draft next week: “We also can advise to be on the lookout for Thielen to participate in a pre-draft show for Vikings Entertainment Network.”

In that vein, he can follow in Leber’s footsteps. Leber played for the Vikings from 2006 to 2010, walking away after the Brett Favre years. By 2012, he had transitioned into a sideline radio personality and has remained in that role since.

Leber is active on social media, engages with fans, appears on folks’ podcasts, and is generally considered one of the most sensible Vikings-themed minds out there. If Thielen wants a blueprint, all he has to do is chat with Leber.

Thielen will turn 36 this summer.

The UEFA Champions League returns with a blockbuster encounter as Bayern Munich host Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of their quarter-final clash. The German giants hold a narrow advantage after securing a 2-1 win in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bayern’s victory in Madrid, powered by goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane, ended a long winless streak against Real Madrid. However, Kylian Mbappe’s late goal has ensured that the tie remains finely balanced heading into the decisive second leg.

Historically, Bayern Munich have been extremely strong in two-legged ties after winning the first leg away from home, progressing in the vast majority of such scenarios. They also come into this match in excellent domestic form, having registered a dominant 5-0 win over St Pauli, which has further strengthened their position at the top of the Bundesliga standings.

The Allianz Arena has been a fortress for Bayern this season. They have won all their home matches in Europe so far and boast an impressive record in Champions League games on home soil, losing just once in their last 28 outings. Their consistency at home will give them confidence as they aim to reach their first semi-final since their 2019-20 triumph.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, are under pressure after a series of underwhelming performances in La Liga. Recent dropped points against Mallorca and Girona have dented their title hopes, leaving them trailing in the race. The team is also adjusting to life under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, and results have been inconsistent across competitions.

Despite these challenges, Real Madrid’s pedigree in the Champions League cannot be overlooked. The Spanish side have a strong track record against German opposition in knockout ties and have consistently found ways to deliver in high-pressure European matches. They also have a solid recent record at the Allianz Arena, remaining unbeaten in their last few visits.

With Bayern holding a slender lead and Real Madrid known for their resilience in Europe, this second leg promises to be an intense and closely fought battle, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Bayern Munich Team News

Bayern Munich will be missing young winger Lennart Karl due to a thigh injury, while goalkeeper Sven Ulreich is also sidelined with a muscle problem. Harry Kane, however, is expected to be available despite experiencing some discomfort after the first leg, which led to him being an unused substitute in the recent match against St Pauli.

Kane has been in strong form against Real Madrid in the Champions League, contributing either a goal or an assist in each of his last four appearances against them. He has already scored 11 goals in this season’s tournament and is just one short of setting a new personal best in the competition.

In attack, Serge Gnabry is likely to return to the starting lineup after recovering from a minor knee issue and could feature alongside Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, with Jamal Musiala potentially dropping out. In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlovic is pushing for a place in the starting XI ahead of Leon Goretzka.

Real Madrid Team News

Real Madrid will be without Thibaut Courtois, who is sidelined with a thigh injury, and Rodrygo, who remains out with an ACL problem. In addition, Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up his third booking of the tournament in the first leg, ruling him out of Wednesday’s clash.

Kylian Mbappe, who leads the Champions League scoring charts this season with 14 goals in 10 matches and is closing in on the single-season record of 17, is also a slight doubt after suffering a facial injury against Girona. If he is cleared to play, he is expected to feature in attack alongside Vinicius Junior, with Arda Guler or Brahim Diaz competing for the remaining forward spot, while Gonzalo Garcia remains an option to lead the line.

In midfield, Real Madrid may turn to Eduardo Camavinga or youngster Thiago Pitarch Pinar to partner Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham in Tchouameni’s absence. Defensively, a reshuffle is likely, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras all in contention to return to the starting XI.

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid probable starting eleven:

Bayern Munich starting 11: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane

Real Madrid starting 11: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr

UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid Live Telecast and Streaming Details

When will the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid be played?

The UEFA Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will take place on April 16 (according to IST).

What time will the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid begin on April 16?

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 AM IST.

What will be the venue for the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid?

Camp Nou Stadium will host the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Where will the live telecast of the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid be available in India?

The live telecast of the match will be available on Sony LIV in India.

Where will the live streaming of the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid be available in India?

Fans in India can stream the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League match live on Sony LIV.

England women’s national team secured a major win over Spain women’s national team to move top of their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying group.

Lauren Hemp scored in the opening three minutes to give England an early lead at Wembley.

Spain came close through Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle, but created few clear chances.

The second half opened up with chances at both ends.

Lauren James and Alessia Russo were unable to extend England’s lead, while Spain hit the woodwork through Olga Carmona and Vicky Lopez.

Late pressure followed, but Hampton made a save to preserve the lead.

The result keeps England top of the group with three wins from three matches, putting them in control of qualification with only the group winner advancing automatically.

After the match, England manager Sarina Wiegman said:

“I think as a team against Spain you have to defend really well as their individual quality is so high.”

“If you don’t stay compact, like we did, then they find spaces to get behind and become more dangerous.”

“Overall, we did that. We also had moments in the game where we went forward and created chances.”

“At the moment it’s a really good result and we’re really happy but we need to keep that significance by getting a result on Saturday against Iceland.”

England now face Iceland next, and another win would strengthen their position heading into the final round of qualifiers.

The Washington Capitals’ 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in their final regular season game on Tuesday turned out to be a dead rubber for both teams after they were eliminated from the playoff race by the Philadelphia Flyers’ win on Monday. But for Capitals fans, it could well be the last time they see their star, Alex Ovechkin, take the ice.

The 40-year-old has yet to make a decision whether he will return to Washington’s lineup for next season, as his five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021 expires. After their final home game in Washington, which they won 3-0 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Ovechkin stated he will decide in the offseason.

He maintained that stance during the postgame interviews on Tuesday.

“I hope it’s not my last game,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. So, we’ll see.”

Ovechkin earned a point via an assist on Jakob Chychrun’s winning power-play goal. He had a chance to score in the dying stages of the game when Columbus had pulled the goalie for an extra attacker, but his shot from the right side missed the goal.

As he exited via the tunnel, Washington fans who had travelled to Ohio chanted his name in unison. The Russian professional put his hands together in gratitude and headed for the visiting locker room.

“How I said, I don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Ovechkin said “The fans who came here from D.C. and from different spots to watch the game, it was very nice, you know? I could hear them cheering for me and screaming, ‘One more year.’ It’s important, shows lots of respect.”

Alex Ovechkin, the leading scorer in NHL history, has 929 goals for the Capitals. In his 21-season career, he led the Capitals to a Stanley Cup win in 2018. He has 77 playoff goals, taking his combined total to 1,006 goals, just ten behind Wayne Gretzky.

Alex Ovechkin to have discussions with Capitals management

The Capitals failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2023. The dead rubber wasn’t ideal, but, according to Ovechkin, it helped the team’s gameplay.

“The season is over,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously, you don’t want to end like that, but it’s a learning process for young guys. … I think it’s on us and, obviously, last night was not a good scenario for us and for Columbus as well.”

Washington will be aware that they have a few changes to make if they are to regain their contendership next season. If they are without Ovechkin, replacing his production will be a big task for the management.

The 2004 first round pick said that he will have discussions with Spencer Carbery, general manager Chris Patrick, team president Brian MacLellan and owner Ted Leonsis after the end of season meetings.

“We’re going to stay a little bit in D.C.,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t know when we’re going to fly, probably May, fly back home.”

If he doesn’t return to the ice again, Ovechkin would complete a full circle in the NHL. He made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2005, coincidentally against the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring two goals on that day.