04/26/2026
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK | What's Going On in St. Charles
From St. Charles to South Bend to Steel City: Gabriel Rubio Is Headed to Pittsburgh
There are moments in local sports that remind you why we follow these kids in the first place. Yesterday was one of them.
Gabriel Rubio, a St. Charles kid who played his high school ball at Lutheran High School of St. Charles County, was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 210th overall. The big defensive lineman out of Notre Dame is now officially headed to Pittsburgh, and the story behind how he got there is one worth telling in full.
Gabe grew up here. He came through the hallways at Lutheran and developed into one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the state of Missouri. By the time his high school career was done, he had racked up 117 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks in a single season. He was rated a four-star recruit by every major service, ranked as high as the No. 9 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 2 overall prospect in Missouri. Notre Dame came calling, and he said yes.
His college career at South Bend had its share of hard luck. A fractured foot cost him the first half of the 2024 season before he stepped into a starting role when the Irish needed him most, suiting up for the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and the National Championship game. He finished his college career appearing in 39 games for the Fighting Irish, a 6-foot-5, 321-pound load of a human being who can eat up blockers and collapse a pocket.
But here is the part of this story that stopped people cold when the Steelers made the pick.
Twenty-eight years ago, Pittsburgh drafted his father.
Angel Rubio, a three-time All-American defensive end at Southeast Missouri State, was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Now his son just got drafted by the same franchise, one round higher. Gabriel said after the pick that his dad was "ecstatic" and immediately started giving him pointers about living in Pittsburgh and what to expect from the organization.
His mother Theresa said it best when the pick came in: "A full circle moment. Angel was drafted by the Steelers back in 98 and now our son is going to be a Steeler. We are so proud of you Gabriel."
That is about as good as it gets.
And the St. Charles community has its own connection to this family beyond football. Theresa Rubio is the principal owner of Grandma's Cookies right here in St. Charles. If you have not been in, you are missing out. And given what just happened in Pittsburgh yesterday, we have a strong feeling a Steelers-themed cookie of the month is coming. We will be first in line when it does.
From the hallways at Lutheran to the golden dome at Notre Dame to the black and gold of Pittsburgh, Gabe Rubio's path started right here. St. Charles produced this kid, and St. Charles is proud of every step he has taken.
Congratulations, Gabe. The whole community has got your back.
What's Going On in St. Charles is a community media platform serving over 110,000 residents of the greater St. Charles area. If you have a local athlete story worth telling, reach out to our team.
