EAGAN, Minn. – Andrew Van Ginkel envisions a "great fit" awaiting with the Vikings.

"I'm excited to be here, be at U.S. Bank Stadium and just see that place rockin'," Van Ginkel said last week during his introductory press conference.

Van Ginkel hit free agency after spending his first five pro seasons with the Dolphins, for whom he recorded a career-high 6.0 sacks in 2023. He also recorded 69 tackles, eight tackles for loss, a pick six, eight passes defensed and a fumble recovery.

Originally a fifth-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2019, Van Ginkel has started 42 of the 73 games he's played for Miami. He's totaled 250 tackles, 17 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 21 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Here are five things to know about Van Ginkel:

1. Reuniting with Flores

Van Ginkel may be new to the Vikings locker room, but he's plenty familiar with Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.

Flores coached Van Ginkel as the Dolphins head coach from 2019-21. He was part of the coaching staff that drafted the pass rusher out of Wisconsin.

Van Ginkel's aggressiveness and versatility are good fits for the Flores defense.

"He's kind of really molded me into the player I am today, and we went through a lot of hard times," Van Ginkel said. "But just the way he used me, it's very versatile … being able to line up in different positions, makes it tough on opponents and game planning, so it was definitely what intrigued me."

2. Former Badger

Minnesota fans might be familiar with Van Ginkel as a Golden Gophers rival for two seasons.

Van Ginkel began his college career as a defensive end at the University of South Dakota but transferred after one season to Iowa Western Community College. After two seasons there, he transferred to Wisconsin, where he played linebacker.

Over 37 games for the Badgers, Van Ginkel recorded 154 tackles, 21 sacks and 37.5 tackles for loss. He nabbed two interceptions as a junior, returning one of them for a touchdown.

3. Diamond in the rough

As noted above, Van Ginkel had an incredibly modest start to his collegiate football career.

The Iowa native attended Rock Valley Community High School, where he played quarterback for the Nighthawks – a team shared with Boyden-Hull High School.

Van Ginkel didn't attract attention from big schools and didn't participate in any recruiting camps following his senior season at Rock Valley.

4. Van Ginkel … jingle?

During Van Ginkel's time with the Badgers, his teammates made his last name into a type of chant that often was heard on the sidelines or in the locker room.

Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, who teamed with Van Ginkel at Wisconsin, brought the song back on the Miami sidelines.

5. Family man

Van Ginkel and his wife Sam have two sons, Leo (2) and Ripken (1).

Sam posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the family is excited to return to the Midwest – and included a fun throwback of the young couple wearing Minnesota Twins gear.