Vikings‘ LB Andrew van Ginkel finds his drive to excel from the strong backing of his wife! Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2019, he transitioned to the Vikings in March last year. Playing at South Dakota first and then at Wisconsin, he made his dreams come true by making it to the NFL. And, across his journey, his then-girlfriend, and now wife, Samantha Van Dinkel has been his ultimate support system.

From taking care of their two sons to engaging in charitable work together, Andrew and Samantha are truly made for each other. And seeing the immense influence of Samantha in Andrew’s life gravitates fans’ attention to know more. Let’s get to know her!

Who is Samantha Van Ginkel?

Samantha Van Ginkel, Andrew’s wife, has dedicated herself to family and faith. She holds a double major in Human Services and Criminal Justice, completing her studies at the University of South Dakota. Describing herself as “a child of God,” she leverages her social media platform to spread the message of love and kindness. Moreover, in the early mornings, she reads the Bible to find peace and orient her day.

As a mom to two boys, Leo Barrett and Ripken Kai, she remarks, “Motherhood is my ministry. I have two little boys that I’m trying to raise into men who show love,” as highlighted in the PhinPhanatic‘s article in 2023. Samantha also actively takes part in charitable causes, as she runs the Van Ginkel Impact Foundation with Andrew. By taking care of foster children and advocating to support families that are battling childhood cancer, she gives back to society.

The inspiration for her philanthropic work comes from Andrew’s late sister, who succumbed to cancer. Samantha adds, “Because of the tragedy that his family experienced, we are both very passionate about helping families and children throughout their fight with cancer,” as quoted in the same article mentioned above. Known as the “queen of tailgating,” she has a solid enthusiasm for life. It shines through in the events she curates for her guests, including her signature “Sam shots.” She plans to open a home for foster children one day and expand the scope of her charitable work.

The loving bond between Andrew and Samantha

On November 14, 2017, Samantha took to her Instagram account to make a heartfelt post, celebrating her loving journey with Andrew. The couple began to date in high school, as she wrote, “6 years ago, this guy slid into my Facebook Messages… thankful for you today, every day, & the days to come.” The couple and their kids regularly feature on her Instagram, giving us such acute ‘couple goals’.

The culmination of their seven years of dating came when Andrew proposed to Samantha in December 2018. Soon after on February 15, 2020, they tied the knot at the Country Celebrations. She calls Andrew her anchor, as she made a post on March 30, 2024, writing, “Most days, we’re attached at the hip.. and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The couple welcomed their first son, Leo Barrett, on July 8, 2021. And, their second son, Ripken Kai, came to this world in February 2023. Samantha never fails to express her gratitude for her beautiful family. Fully embracing her role as a stay-at-home mom, Samantha makes it a point to balance her life, family, and charitable efforts.