Andrew Van Ginkel Bio
Andrew Van Ginkel is an American professional football linebacker who plays for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Dakota Coyotes before transferring to the Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Standing 193 centimeters tall, he is known for his pass-rushing ability, coverage instincts, and knack for producing turnovers at key moments. After several seasons of steady growth in Miami, Van Ginkel emerged as a full-time starter in Minnesota, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and a Second-Team All-Pro nod.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Van Ginkel was born on July 1, 1995, in Rock Valley, Iowa. He grew up in the small northwest Iowa community where football is part of the local fabric, and he attended Rock Valley Community High School in Rock Valley. At Rock Valley, Van Ginkel played for the Nighthawks, a consolidated team shared with Boyden-Hull High School, lining up at quarterback and defensive back. His combination of size, athleticism, and football IQ was evident even then, though major college programs did not aggressively pursue him during recruiting.
After his senior season, Van Ginkel did not attend recruiting camps, and most large schools did not extend scholarship offers. He instead focused on finding the right college fit, a decision that would eventually send him on a winding path through three different programs. His upbringing in a tight-knit farming town helped shape his blue-collar work ethic, which coaches have often cited as a defining trait of his professional career.
Path to American Football
Van Ginkel began his college career at the University of South Dakota, where he played defensive end for the Coyotes. He redshirted his first year and then played one full season, earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors as a freshman, an unusual early distinction that highlighted his disruptive potential off the edge. When South Dakota head coach Joe Glenn retired, Van Ginkel decided to transfer rather than remain with the program.
He landed at Iowa Western Community College, where he continued to develop as a defensive end against junior college competition. A second transfer followed, this time to the University of Wisconsin, where coaches moved him to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. At Wisconsin, Van Ginkel played two seasons, refined his coverage and blitzing skills, and earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2018. By the time he declared for the NFL Draft, he had built the resume needed to hear his name called on draft weekend.
Andrew Van Ginkel Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
The Miami Dolphins selected Andrew Van Ginkel in the fifth round, 151st overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve early in his rookie season on September 6, 2019, but was designated for return on November 13 and activated on November 20, giving him a late-season debut. As he adjusted to the speed of the professional game, Van Ginkel carved out a rotational role on the Dolphins defense.
In 2020, Van Ginkel produced one of the most memorable plays of his early career. On November 1, 2020, against the Los Angeles Rams, he recovered a fumble from quarterback Jared Goff and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown in a 28-17 Dolphins win, the second-longest fumble return in franchise history. Later that season against the Denver Broncos, he forced a fumble at the goal line against running back Melvin Gordon, showing the relentless pursuit that would become a hallmark of his game.
Miami Dolphins Era (2019-2023)
Over five seasons with the Dolphins, Van Ginkel developed from a depth edge rusher into a dependable contributor on passing downs. He flashed playmaking ability throughout his Miami tenure, particularly as a blitzer and in zone coverage. His athleticism allowed defensive coordinators to use him in a variety of roles, and his versatility made him a valuable chess piece in multiple schemes.
On March 23, 2023, Van Ginkel re-signed with the Dolphins on a one-year contract, returning for another season in South Florida. His 2023 campaign, however, ended on January 9, 2024, when the team placed him on injured reserve. Despite the late-season setback, his Miami years laid the foundation for the breakout that would follow in Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024-Present)
On March 13, 2024, Andrew Van Ginkel signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, beginning a new chapter of his career. In his Vikings debut on September 8 against the New York Giants, he recorded a sack and an interception, returning the interception ten yards for a touchdown off quarterback Daniel Jones. That performance made him only the third Vikings player since 2000 to post a sack and interception in a season opener, joining Kevin Williams and Harrison Smith, and it marked Minnesota’s first pick-six since Week 17 of the 2021 season.
Van Ginkel’s ball-hawking tendencies continued in Week 5 against the New York Jets in London, where he intercepted Aaron Rodgers and returned the interception 63 yards for a touchdown, his second pick-six as a Viking and the third of his career. In Week 16, he tallied five tackles and two sacks in a 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was also ranked 88th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, a testament to his growing reputation. On April 29, 2025, Van Ginkel signed a one-year contract extension worth $23 million, securing his future in Minnesota.
Driving Style and Strengths
Van Ginkel is a versatile edge defender who excels in both pass-rush and coverage situations. He pairs a long, athletic frame with sharp instincts in zone, allowing him to break on routes and undercut throws. His experience in multiple schemes, from defensive end in college to outside linebacker in a 3-4 and a stand-up rusher in Miami and Minnesota, gives him a rare flexibility that defensive coordinators consistently exploit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Van Ginkel’s 78-yard fumble return touchdown against the Rams in 2020 stands out as a defining early moment. His 2024 season with the Vikings, highlighted by multiple pick-sixes, a Defensive Player of the Week award, and his first Pro Bowl selection, marked his arrival as one of the league’s premier off-ball linebackers.
Andrew Van Ginkel Career Wins
Andrew Van Ginkel has notched several signature wins and performances across both of his NFL stops. While he is a defensive player rather than a stat-sheet quarterback, his impact shows up in game-turning plays such as fumble recoveries, sacks, and interceptions returned for touchdowns. The 2024 campaign in Minnesota produced the most decorated stretch of his career to date.
Minnesota Vikings Highlights
Van Ginkel’s first season with the Vikings produced immediate results, including a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown in the 2024 opener against the New York Giants. He added a second pick-six against the Jets in London, recorded five tackles and two sacks in a Week 16 win over the Seattle Seahawks, and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His peer-driven recognition on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 list further underscored his impact during the 2024 season.
Other Wins and Performances
During his time with the Dolphins, Van Ginkel authored one of the team’s longest fumble returns in franchise history, a 78-yard touchdown against the Rams in 2020. He also forced a crucial goal-line fumble against the Broncos later that season and helped Miami to multiple winning campaigns as a key rotational defender.
Andrew Van Ginkel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Andrew Van Ginkel’s immediate family remain limited. He was raised in Rock Valley, Iowa, and credits the values of his hometown for instilling a hard-working, team-first mentality. His journey through three different college football programs is a testament to the support system that surrounded him along the way.
Personal Life
Van Ginkel has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye. He is widely known for his intensity on the field and his grounded demeanor off it, and he maintains an active presence on social media where he shares glimpses of his training and game-day routines.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Andrew Van Ginkel is firmly entrenched as a key piece of the Minnesota Vikings defense following his April 2025 contract extension. The one-year, $23 million deal signals the franchise’s confidence in his trajectory after a breakout 2024 campaign. He is expected to continue serving as a versatile off-ball linebacker who can rush the passer, drop into coverage, and create takeaways in critical situations.
With two pick-sixes already on his Vikings resume and a Defensive Player of the Week honor under his belt, Van Ginkel enters 2025 with momentum and a clear role on the defense. The Vikings’ defensive scheme is designed to maximize his athleticism, and his chemistry with the coaching staff should allow him to keep producing impact plays. A second consecutive Pro Bowl nod is well within reach if he sustains his 2024 form.