Gabriel Rubio's selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft adds more than size to the defensive line—it revives a family connection to the organization.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Notre Dame defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While the pick itself was covered at the time, Rubio's story includes a notable family tie: his father, Angel Rubio, was drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Angel appeared in two NFL games with the Arizona Cardinals, later played in the XFL and Arena Football League, and went on to serve as a firefighter captain in Wentzville, Missouri. Rubio himself overcame an arm injury that ended his 2025 college season early, having recorded 66 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks over 39 games at Notre Dame. The family angle gives added meaning to a Day 3 selection expected to compete for a depth role in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defensive line.
