(KIWA Staff Photo)Rock Valley, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota (Sioux County Radio) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker and Rock Valley native Andrew Van Ginkel has gone from a lightly recruited Northwest Iowa high school standout to an All-Pro NFL linebacker.
Now entering his eighth NFL season, Van Ginkel says his approach to training camp includes not only improving his own game, but helping the younger players around him.
The 31-year-old former Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley standout is preparing for his third season with Minnesota. Van Ginkel earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors during his first season with the Vikings in 2024, but injuries complicated the start of his 2025 campaign.
As one of the veterans on Minnesota’s defense, Van Ginkel says he enters camp looking for specific areas where he can improve while also serving as a mentor.
Van Ginkel’s first season in Minnesota in 2024 included two interception returns for touchdowns and ultimately earned him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition. Last season began differently as he worked his way back from injuries.
Van Ginkel said it took time to regain the confidence and trust needed to return to his usual form.
Van Ginkel sees one area in particular where the Vikings defense needs to take a step forward in 2026.
There is also change on the other side of the ball for Minnesota.
Kyler Murray enters the season as the Vikings’ new starting quarterback. From Van Ginkel’s perspective as a defender, Murray’s combination of mobility and arm talent can create problems for opposing defenses.
Van Ginkel said he is looking forward to seeing what the Vikings’ offense can do with Murray, pointing as well to Minnesota’s running backs and offensive line.
Long before Van Ginkel was trying to read NFL quarterbacks, he was playing the position himself.
Van Ginkel played quarterback and defensive back for Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley. His football journey eventually took him to the University of South Dakota, Iowa Western Community College and Wisconsin before the Miami Dolphins selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Van Ginkel joked that his quarterback career was quickly put to rest when he arrived at South Dakota. Still, he believes his time playing the position continues to help him as a defender.
Van Ginkel has accumulated 383 tackles and 35.5 sacks through his first seven NFL seasons, along with five interceptions and four defensive touchdowns.
Despite the individual accolades and a career that has taken him from Northwest Iowa to the NFL, there is one accomplishment Van Ginkel is still chasing with Minnesota: winning in the postseason.
Asked how badly he wants to win a playoff game, Van Ginkel made his goal clear.
Asked if the Vikings can get it done, Van Ginkel responded by saying this:
The Vikings kick off their preseason on Saturday with a noon game at the New York Giants. You can hear that game on KIWA FM 105.3 with pregame coverage at 11:00 a.m. with kickoff scheduled at 12:00 p.m.
