Last Updated on November 6, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Andrew Van Ginkel is an American professional football player who plays as an outside linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 1, 1995, in Rock Valley, Iowa, Van Ginkel has developed into one of the most recognizable defensive players on the Vikings roster.
Before joining Minnesota in 2024, he played college football at South Dakota, Iowa Western Community College and Wisconsin. He began his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Beyond football, Van Ginkel is a devoted family man. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Samantha Van Ginkel, and the couple has three sons named Leo, Ripken and Truett. He is also the son of Henry and Karen Van Ginkel and grew up in a large family with six siblings.
His close relationship with his wife, children, parents and siblings has remained an important part of his life throughout his professional football career.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Wife – Samantha Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel is married to Samantha Van Ginkel, also known as Sam. The couple began their relationship during their high school years in Rock Valley, Iowa.
According to Andrew’s official Minnesota Vikings biography, he married his high school sweetheart in February 2020.
Their relationship began long before Andrew established himself as an NFL player, and Samantha has supported him throughout different stages of his football journey.
During his time with the Miami Dolphins, the couple lived in South Florida, where they began raising their family.
When Andrew became a free agent in 2024, Samantha played an important role in the family’s decision to return to the Midwest.
The couple welcomed the opportunity to live closer to their relatives and friends in Iowa while Andrew continued his professional career with the Minnesota Vikings.
In a feature published by the Vikings, Samantha explained that returning to the Midwest felt like a natural decision because of their strong emotional connection to the region.
Who Is Samantha Van Ginkel?
Samantha Van Ginkel is the wife of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and the mother of their three children.
Originally connected to the Rock Valley, Iowa, community, Samantha has remained actively involved in supporting her husband’s professional football career.
She is particularly known for organizing large gatherings of relatives and friends who attend Andrew’s home games in Minnesota.
According to a Minnesota Vikings feature, Samantha has coordinated groups of approximately 55 family members, friends, former coaches and classmates for Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The gatherings often include organized transportation from the family’s home to the stadium, allowing supporters to celebrate Andrew’s achievements together.
Samantha has also spoken publicly about Andrew’s personality as a husband and father, describing him as a relatively quiet person who becomes particularly energetic when spending time with their children.
Her continued involvement in family activities and community events reflects the important role she plays in Andrew’s life away from football.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Children
Andrew Van Ginkel and his wife, Samantha, have three sons: Leo Barrett, Ripken Kai and Truett.
The Minnesota Vikings’ official player biography confirms the names of all three children.
Andrew has frequently spoken about the importance of fatherhood and the joy of spending time with his boys away from the football field.
Leo Barrett Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s First Son
Leo Barrett Van Ginkel is the eldest son of Andrew and Samantha Van Ginkel.
He was born in July 2021, approximately one year after his parents married.
Leo has developed an early interest in football, particularly because of his father’s career in the NFL.
During an interview with the Minnesota Vikings, Samantha explained that Leo enjoys watching highlights of his father’s football performances.
She also revealed that he regularly asks to watch his father play and enjoys listening to the Minnesota Vikings’ fight song.
Leo’s enthusiasm for football has become an entertaining part of everyday life for the Van Ginkel family.
Ripken Kai Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Second Son
Ripken Kai Van Ginkel is Andrew and Samantha’s second son.
He was born in February 2023, joining his older brother Leo.
Like his brother, Ripken has grown up surrounded by football because of his father’s professional career.
When the family moved to Minnesota in 2024, both boys quickly became enthusiastic about their father’s new team.
Samantha has described how the children enjoy watching Andrew on television and celebrating his performances.
The boys have also participated in family activities connected to Vikings games and the team’s supporters.
Truett Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Third Son
Truett is the youngest son of Andrew and Samantha Van Ginkel.
His arrival expanded the couple’s family to five members.
Truett’s name is included in Andrew’s updated official Minnesota Vikings player biography, which identifies Leo, Ripken and Truett as the couple’s three sons.
Unlike his older brothers, whose birth months and years are documented in earlier Vikings biographies, fewer personal details about Truett have been widely discussed in football media.
The family has generally maintained a degree of privacy around the children’s personal lives while occasionally sharing family milestones publicly.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Parents
Andrew Van Ginkel was born to Henry Van Ginkel and Karen Van Ginkel.
He grew up in Rock Valley, Iowa, a small community where family, sports and hard work were important parts of his upbringing.
Andrew was raised alongside six siblings, making him one of seven children in the Van Ginkel family.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Father – Henry Van Ginkel
Henry Van Ginkel is Andrew Van Ginkel’s father.
His identity is confirmed in Andrew’s official Minnesota Vikings biography and in Northwestern College athletic records for his brother Kyle.
Henry and Karen raised their seven children in Rock Valley, Iowa, where Andrew developed his passion for sports.
Growing up in a large family encouraged Andrew to develop independence, discipline and a competitive mindset.
His childhood included participating in several sports, including football, basketball and track and field.
Although Henry’s professional background and private life have not been extensively documented in major sports media, he is part of the family environment that helped shape Andrew’s athletic development.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Mother – Karen Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel’s mother is Karen Van Ginkel, also identified in reporting as Karen Van Ginkel-Cox.
Karen has remained strongly connected to the Rock Valley community, where she raised Andrew and his siblings.
Her commitment to helping others received attention following the devastating flooding that affected Rock Valley in June 2024.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Karen began making fleece blankets for families who had lost possessions during the disaster.
She also offered her garage as a temporary storage and distribution location for furniture and other donated items.
Her efforts helped support families who were struggling to recover from the flooding.
Andrew also returned to Rock Valley to assist with recovery efforts, demonstrating the family’s continued connection to the community.
The experience highlighted the importance of generosity, hard work and community involvement within the Van Ginkel family.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Siblings
Andrew Van Ginkel has six siblings: Kyle, Nate, Ruth, Jon, Jenny and Connie.
The names are confirmed in the official Northwestern College football biography of his brother Kyle Van Ginkel.
Andrew has also publicly confirmed that he grew up with six siblings.
Nate Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Older Brother
Nate Van Ginkel is Andrew’s older brother and a former college football player.
He played linebacker at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Nate has remained one of Andrew’s supporters throughout his professional football career.
In a Minnesota Vikings feature about Andrew’s return to the Midwest, Nate described the family’s excitement about watching his younger brother succeed in the NFL.
He emphasized that Andrew’s accomplishments reflected years of hard work and dedication.
Nate also recalled seeing signs of Andrew’s athletic potential during his high school career.
His comments demonstrate the close relationship between the brothers and the pride the family takes in Andrew’s achievements.
Kyle Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Brother
Kyle Van Ginkel is another of Andrew’s brothers and also played competitive football.
Like Nate, Kyle attended Northwestern College in Iowa, where he played linebacker.
According to his official college biography, Kyle previously played football for the Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley high school program.
He earned first-team all-state recognition and helped his team reach the state playoffs.
Kyle’s athletic achievements demonstrate that football was an important activity within the Van Ginkel household.
His Northwestern College profile also confirms the names of his parents and six siblings, including Andrew.
Jon Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Brother
Jon Van Ginkel is one of Andrew’s six siblings.
His name appears in Kyle Van Ginkel’s official Northwestern College football biography.
However, detailed information about Jon’s occupation, education and personal life has not been widely documented in reliable public sources.
Ruth Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Sister
Ruth Van Ginkel is Andrew’s sister.
She is identified as a member of the family in Northwestern College’s athletic records.
Although Andrew has spoken about the importance of his large family, Ruth has maintained a relatively private personal life.
Additional verified information about her occupation and personal background is limited.
Jenny Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Sister
Jenny Van Ginkel is another of Andrew’s sisters.
Her name is listed in the official Northwestern College biography of Kyle Van Ginkel.
Jenny is part of the large family that Andrew has credited with providing encouragement throughout his football career.
Further details about her personal and professional life have not been widely established through public reporting.
Connie Van Ginkel – Andrew Van Ginkel’s Sister
Connie Van Ginkel is Andrew’s third publicly identified sister.
She is named alongside Ruth, Jenny and the other Van Ginkel siblings in Northwestern College’s official athletics records.
Like several members of the family, Connie maintains a largely private life away from professional sports coverage.
Her educational background, occupation and other personal details have not been extensively documented.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Family Background and Childhood
Andrew Van Ginkel was raised in Rock Valley, Iowa, where he developed a strong connection to his hometown and the surrounding community.
Growing up with six siblings exposed him to an active family environment in which competition and teamwork were important parts of daily life.
He attended Rock Valley Community High School and played football for the combined Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley program.
During high school, Andrew played quarterback and defensive back, demonstrating versatility on both sides of the football.
He also competed in basketball and track and field.
Despite his athletic performances, he attracted limited attention from major college football programs.
He eventually began his college football career at the University of South Dakota before transferring to Iowa Western Community College.
His development continued at the University of Wisconsin, where he became a productive outside linebacker.
The Miami Dolphins selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
His journey from a small Iowa community to professional football became a source of pride for his relatives, friends and former coaches.
How Andrew Van Ginkel’s Family Supported His NFL Career
Family support has been an important part of Andrew Van Ginkel’s football journey.
After beginning his professional career with the Miami Dolphins, Andrew spent five seasons in South Florida.
During that period, he married Samantha and welcomed their first two sons.
When the opportunity to join the Minnesota Vikings emerged in 2024, the couple welcomed the possibility of returning to the Midwest.
The move brought them closer to their hometown of Rock Valley, allowing Andrew to spend more time with relatives and longtime friends.
His wife Samantha began organizing large groups of supporters who traveled together to home games in Minnesota.
Andrew’s siblings and other relatives also attended games, celebrating his success with the Vikings.
In an official team feature, Andrew explained that the support of his extended family and friends meant a great deal to him.
His relationship with Rock Valley remained particularly important when historic flooding affected the community in June 2024.
Andrew and Samantha participated in relief efforts, helping provide assistance to people affected by the disaster.
According to CBS Sports, they helped organize hot meals for displaced residents and others experiencing difficulties.
Their involvement demonstrated that the couple remained committed to supporting their hometown despite the demands of professional football.
In April 2025, Andrew signed a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings, providing additional stability for his family.
He subsequently discussed how much he appreciated living in Minnesota with Samantha and their children.
Frequently Asked Questions About Andrew Van Ginkel’s Family
Who is Andrew Van Ginkel’s wife?
Andrew Van Ginkel’s wife is Samantha Van Ginkel, also known as Sam. The couple were high school sweethearts and married in February 2020.
Is Andrew Van Ginkel married?
Yes. Andrew Van Ginkel has been married to Samantha Van Ginkel since February 2020.
How many children does Andrew Van Ginkel have?
Andrew Van Ginkel has three sons named Leo, Ripken and Truett. Their names are confirmed in his official Minnesota Vikings player biography.
Who is Andrew Van Ginkel’s oldest son?
His oldest son is Leo Barrett Van Ginkel, who was born in July 2021.
Who is Andrew Van Ginkel’s youngest son?
His youngest son is Truett, the third child of Andrew and Samantha Van Ginkel.
Who are Andrew Van Ginkel’s parents?
Andrew Van Ginkel’s parents are Henry Van Ginkel and Karen Van Ginkel. They raised their seven children in Rock Valley, Iowa.
Does Andrew Van Ginkel have siblings?
Yes. Andrew Van Ginkel has six siblings: Kyle, Nate, Ruth, Jon, Jenny and Connie.
Are Andrew Van Ginkel’s brothers football players?
Yes. His brothers Kyle and Nate played college football as linebackers at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Where is Andrew Van Ginkel’s family from?
Andrew Van Ginkel and his wife Samantha have strong connections to Rock Valley, Iowa, where they grew up. Andrew’s parents and several relatives have also maintained ties to the community.
How did Andrew Van Ginkel meet his wife?
Andrew and Samantha knew each other during high school in Rock Valley, Iowa. Their relationship developed before Andrew began his professional football career.
What does Andrew Van Ginkel’s wife do?
Samantha has been publicly recognized for coordinating family gatherings, supporting Andrew’s football career and participating in activities connected to their hometown. Detailed information about her professional occupation has not been consistently documented in reliable sources.
Tanos Potter is a sports journalist and NFL analyst dedicated to bringing fans closer to the gridiron through deep tactical analysis and roster coverage. He breaks down offensive and defensive schemes, quarterback performance, trade moves, and top Draft prospects. Tracking action across both the AFC and NFC, Tanos translates complex playbooks and statistics into engaging, actionable insights for football enthusiasts.
