The votes are in. The numbers have been tallied. The BTSC readers have spoken.
And the winner of the 2026 Isaac Redman Award is…
Rookie defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio.
Rubio held the lead throughout the entire process, and when the polls closed, he had secured 43% of the vote. Second place, rookie safety Robert Spears-Jennings, also made a strong push for the award with 28%.
An award meant to celebrate players who emerged from the “furthest reaches of obscurity to reach general heightened fame and appeal”
among Steeler fans during the preseason, it’s hard to argue that anyone fit the bill better than Rubio.
Drafted in the sixth round, the big defensive tackle received hardly any draft buzz despite playing at Notre Dame, eliciting plenty of “Who?” reactions when his name was announced. However, during the preseason he quickly played his way from unknown status to becoming a 53-man roster favorite, showing great run-stuffing ability and even some power as a pass rusher.
And as the cutdown deadline approaches and the Steelers have already cut Dean Lowry and Esezi Otomewo, Rubio’s roster odds are looking strong.
The son of another former Pittsburgh draft pick in Angel Rubio, Gabriel has added another highlight to his family’s Steelers legacy.
