Former Wisconsin Badgers star Andrew Van Ginkel was one of the four Minnesota Vikings stars named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, and the 29-year-old outside linebacker couldn’t believe it when he heard his name on the list for the first time.
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“It’s surreal, I don’t even know how to put it into words,” Van Ginkel said via Andrew Krammer of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “It’s been a long year, obviously recovering from Lisfranc (injury last offseason), going to a new team with all new teammates, learning a new system. It’s a dream come true.”
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Andrew Van Ginkel, who played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017 to 2018, has started all 16 games of his first season in Minnesota and sixth in the NFL. He goes into Week 18 of the 2024 regular season with 46 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and five passes defended.
The Minnesota Vikings standout was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 16 outing against the Seattle Seahawks, tallying five tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hits.
Other Wisconsin Badgers who made it to the Pro Bowl this season
Besides Andrew Van Ginkel, former Wisconsin Badgers stars TJ Watt, Zack Baun, and Jonathan Taylor are also named to the Pro Bowl. Like Andrew Van Ginkel, Zack Baun earned the selection for the first time in his NFL career. Meanwhile, Taylor and Watt have already been selected before.
Barring deep playoff runs from the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers (the Indianapolis Colts are eliminated from playoff contention), all of them should participate in the games come February.
