A former Illinois football star is making his presence felt with the New England Patriots.
Coach Mike Vrabel's New England Patriots took on Mike McCarthy's Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in a game that served as the perfect canvas for Illinois alum Gabe Jacas, who is impressing as an NFL rookie.
The linebacker/defensive end hybrid Jacas was selected with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has become a contributor with the defending AFC Champions.
Jacas recorded a career first on Sunday as he added to a miserable day for Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers.
September 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Gabe Jacas (50) reaches for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Jacas Shows Up Big vs. Steelers
The Illinois rookie helped his team shut down Rodgers and the Steelers, earning the future Hall-of-Famer's respect after the game and recording three tackles on and one interception on the day in Foxborough, Mass.
Jacas made a heads-up play as he plucked a bobbled screen pass intended for Germie Bernard out of the air and quickly advanced down the field.
Jacas met with Rodgers after the game, receiving a compliment for his big play.
"Great (expletive) job man," Rodgers said as he hugged the former Fighting Illini star.
Jacas finished seventh in the nation in sacks with the Fighting Illini last season, recording 11 before leaving for the NFL. He had a strong NFL Combine performance, positioning himself as one of the combine's most athletic pass rushers. So far, Jacas has lived up to his reputation, casting a spotlight on coach Bret Bielema's Illinois football program since entering the Patriots' organization.
He fits the prototype of an Illinois football defensive lineman/pass rusher hybrid type that fans have come to know and recognize from the Fighting Illini dating back to the early 1990s days of Simeon Rice. The sky is the limit for Jacas as he continues to develop his immense physical gifts on a well-coached Patriots team that looks like a Super Bowl contender again so far in 2026-27.
Patriots Prepare for Road Game at Jaguars
Next up for Jacas, Vrabel and the Patriots is a road game against Trevor Lawrence's Jaguars in Jacksonville. The Patriots are 1-1 on the season after splitting games against the Seahawks and Steelers in Week 1 and 2.
Jacas has the luxury of easing into a Patriots team that doesn't necessarily need big-time production from him in every game. He has the talent to record more sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and other big plays, but he also has enough help around him on defense to pick his spots and continue to learn on the fly.
Jacas' tenure so far with the Patriots looks like it is setting him up for a long and storied career with one of the NFL's most consistent franchises. He also stands as a shining example of Bielema's program's ability to develop future NFL talent in Champaign, Ill., which could be used on the recruiting trail going forward.
