Former Wisconsin football standout linebacker earns major NFL payday
Former Wisconsin football standout linebacker earns major NFL payday
The Minnesota Vikings awarded former Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel a one-year, $23 million contract extension on Tuesday.
The deal, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, includes $22.4 million guaranteed. It is yet another major payday for the former Wisconsin standout after a breakout 2024 season. The deal extends his contract into the 2026 season, after he previously signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent last offseason.
Van Ginkel had the best season of his six-year NFL career in 2024, totaling 79 tackles, 18 for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, six pass deflections, one forced fumble and two interceptions -- both of which he returned for touchdowns. Those totals earned him a Pro Bowl nod and Second-Team All-Pro selection, as well as a No. 7 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The former Badger previously spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. He was a consistent force on the team's defensive front during that time, averaging 50 tackles, 6.2 for loss, 9.5 quarterback hits and 3.4 sacks per season. That production, both in Miami and Minnesota, is far more than what was expected from Van Ginkel when the Dolphins selected No. 151 overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Van Ginkel's $23 million salary, when it comes into play next season, would rank 10th out of all NFL edge rushers. One other notable Wisconsin product is on that list: Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt ($28 million). Those two are part of a larger group of former Badger linebackers finding success in the NFL. T.J. Edwards, Zack Baun and Leo Chenal are all also fresh off strong 2024 campaigns.
Van Ginkel played for two seasons for the Badgers (2017-18). He joined the program after one year at the Football Championship Subdivision (South Dakota) and one year in JUCO (Iowa Western). As a Badger, the linebacker totaled 99 tackles, 20 for loss, 12 sacks, two interceptions, five pass deflections and four forced fumbles.
Even with that terrific production, it would have been challenging to predict his current level of success at the NFL level.
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