Van Ginkel attended Rock Valley Community High School in Rock Valley, Iowa, where he played football for the Nighthawks, a consolidated team shared with Boyden–Hull High School, as a quarterback.[2][3] He did not participate in recruiting camps following his senior year of high school football, and did not attract attention from many large schools.[4] Van Ginkel began his college career at University of South Dakota,[5] where he played defensive end.[6] He played for one season but transferred to Iowa Western Community College following his freshman year because head coach Joe Glenn retired.[7] At Iowa Western, Van Ginkel continued to play defensive end.[8] He transferred to the University of Wisconsin and played linebacker for two seasons.[9][10]
Van Ginkel was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round, 151st overall, of the 2019 NFL draft.[13] He was placed on injured reserve on September 6, 2019.[14] He was designated for return from injured reserve on November 13, 2019, and began practicing with the team again.[15] He was activated on November 20, 2019.[16] On November 1, 2020, against the Los Angeles Rams, Van Ginkel recovered a fumble lost by Jared Goff and returned it for a 78-yard touchdown during the 28–17 win. This was the second longest fumble return in Dolphins' team history.[17]
In Week 11 against the Denver Broncos, Van Ginkel forced a fumble on running backMelvin Gordon at the goal line which was recovered by the Dolphins during the 20–13 loss.[18]
On March 23, 2023, Van Ginkel re-signed with the Dolphins on a one-year contract.[19] On January 9, 2024, the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve.[20]
Minnesota Vikings
On March 13, 2024, Van Ginkel signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings.[21] In his first game with the team on September 8 against the New York Giants, he recorded a sack and an interception, joining Kevin Williams and Harrison Smith as the third Vikings player since 2000 to do both in the first game of a season.[22] Van Ginkel also scored a touchdown from a 10-yard interception return from Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, marking the Vikings first pick-six since Week 2 of the 2021 season.[23] In Week 5 against the New York Jets in London, Van Ginkel scored his second pick-six as a Viking and the third of his career after intercepting Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and returning the ball 63 yards to the endzone.[24] In Week 16, Van Ginkel recorded five tackles and two sacks in a 27–24 win over the Seattle Seahawks, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[25]
