Career Highlights: A two-time Pro Bowler, wide receiver Adam Thielen is starting his ninth season with the Minnesota Vikings. Injuries cost Thielen a few games last season, after a career year in 2020 with 14 receiving touchdowns. Undrafted out of Minnesota State University in 2013, Thielen worked his way up from the Vikings practice squad to leading the team in receptions from 2016 to 2018. During the 2018 season, Thielen became the first player in NFL history to record eight consecutive games with 100-plus receiving yards to start a season. He proceeded to record 113 receptions (third most in Vikings history) for 1,373 yards and nine receiving touchdowns. In 2017, he was instrumental in helping the Vikings to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game. With his 1,276 receiving yards and 91 receptions, he became the first Viking to surpass the 1,000-yard mark since 2009. For his efforts, Thielen was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team. A relative unknown after his first two seasons, Thielen became the unsung hero of the Vikings in 2016 leading the team with 967 receiving yards, while also adding 69 catches and five touchdowns.
Doug Pederson
Career Highlights: Former Head Coach Doug Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl title in history in a win over New England in 2018. In just his second season in 2017 as an NFL head coach, Pederson led the Eagles to a 13-3 regular-season record, an NFC East title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and the Super Bowl LLI title. With a combined 24 years of NFL experience as a coach and player, Pederson joined the Eagles in 2016 after three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. As Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015, Pederson helped Kansas City to a 31-17 regular-season record and two playoff appearances. In 2015, Pederson helped the Chiefs win a team-record 11 consecutive games, including their first playoff victory in 22 years. Before coaching, Pederson enjoyed a 12-year NFL playing career with the Packers, Dolphins, Eagles and Browns. As a backup quarterback for Green Bay, he was part of a team that won Super Bowl XXXI, captured two NFC Championships and earned eight playoff berths.
Travis Kelce
Career Highlights: One of the NFL’s strongest tight ends, nine-year Kansas City Chief veteran Travis Kelce is a seven-time Pro Bowler. Kelce’s other accolades include being named First-Team All-Pro three times (2016, 2018, 2020) and Second Team All-Pro three times (2017, 2019, 2021). He won a Super Bowl ring when the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers following the 2019 season. For all his efforts, Kelce was named to the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team. Travis holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards receiving by a tight end (six), and the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a season (1,416 yards in 2020). In 2020, Kelce also became the first tight end to have two 100-catch seasons, including 105 catches in 2020. The Chiefs again went to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season where Kelce set a Super Bowl record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single Super Bowl after catching 10 passes for 133 yards. Kelce played college ball at the University of Cincinnati and is the younger brother of Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles center.
Bret Baier
Career Highlights: Bret Baier serves as FOX News’ chief political anchor, and anchor and executive editor of “Special Report with Bret Baier,” one of cable news’ top shows. Prior to his anchor role, Baier was named FOX’s chief White House correspondent in 2006, covering the Bush administration. Before that, he served as national security correspondent covering military and national security affairs and policies from the Pentagon. Baier joined the network in 1998 and served as the Southeastern correspondent for three years. Baier has anchored more than 30 political specials on FNC, reported from Iraq and Afghanistan numerous times, traveled the world with various administrations and military officials and reported from almost 75 countries. Prior to joining FNC, Baier worked for WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, WREX-TV in Rockford, Illinois and WJWJ-TV in Beaufort, South Carolina. Baier is also the author of four New York Times Best-Sellers: “Three Days in January,” “Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love,” “Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire,” and “Three Days at the Brink: FDR’s Daring Gamble to Win World II.”
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Joe Pavelski
Career Highlights: NHL All-Star Joe Pavelski is a 16-year NHL veteran, spending his first 13 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and the past three with the Dallas Stars. A four-time All-Star, Pavelski holds the record for most playoff goals by an American-born player with 64. As team captain of the Sharks, Pavelski led the team to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals in 2016. San Jose eventually lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Pavelski finished as the league leader in playoff goals (14) and third in points (23). Pavelski began his NHL career in 2006 scoring a goal in his first game, and seven goals and 10 points in his first 12 games. In his career, Pavelski has played in 1,168 games and posted 421 goals, 503 assists and boasts a 147 plus/minus. He won a silver medal as a member of the United States hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics, played on the 2014 USA Olympic Team, and was named the captain of Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Pavelski also won the 2006 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship with the University of Wisconsin.