EAGAN, Minn. – It's sure to be a happy holiday for Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Vikings outside linebacker has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 16, the league announced Tuesday.
The honor comes after Van Ginkel recorded five tackles, 2.0 sacks, three QB hits and two tackles for loss Sunday at Seattle, helping Minnesota to a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks and the team's eighth straight win. His pair of sacks led the NFL in Week 16 and tied his career high — a mark he's reached in four other games, including two others this season (at Tennessee and against Detroit).
Van Ginkel, 29, has engraved his name next to Pro Football Hall of Fame DE Jason Taylor as lone rangers since 1960 to notch 10-plus sacks along with two interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season. Taylor did so in 2006 and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors with two pick sixes and 13.5 sacks. Van Ginkel gathered sacks Nos. 10 and 11 in the Week 16 win at Seattle, continuing to improve on his previous single-season career best of 6.0 sacks with Miami in 2023.
This marks the first time Van Ginkel has received Defensive Player of the Week honors in his six-season career. He joins two other 2024 Vikings free agent acquisitions, quarterback Sam Darnold and fellow outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, to receive NFC Player of the Week honors this season.
View postgame celebration photos from the Vikings 27-24 win over the Seahawks during Week 16 of the 2024 season.
NFC Players of the Week Under O'Connell
2024 Week 16 at Seattle: Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Defensive)
2024 Week 14 vs. Atlanta: Sam Darnold, QB (Offensive)
2024 Week 3 vs. Houston: Jonathan Greenard, OLB (Defensive)
2023 Week 9 at Atlanta: Joshua Dobbs, QB (Offensive)
2023 Week 7 vs. San Francisco: Camryn Bynum, S (Defensive)
2023 Week 6 at Chicago: Jordan Hicks, LB (Defensive)
2022 Week 12 vs. New England: Kene Nwangwu, RB/KR (Special Teams)
2022 Week 10 at Buffalo: Justin Jefferson, WR (Offensive)
2022 Week 8 vs. Arizona: Za'Darius Smith, OLB (Defensive)
2022 Week 6 at Miami: Ryan Wright, P (Special Teams)
2022 Week 4 vs. New Orleans in London: Greg Joseph, K (Special Teams)
