Dwayne Haskins, 24, the backup Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and a former standout at Ohio State, died Saturday, Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed in a press release.
In line with the Florida Freeway Patrol, Haskins was trying to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 in Fort Lauderdale, when he was struck by a dump truck round 6:37 a.m. He was pronounced useless on the scene.
“I’m devastated and puzzled with the unlucky passing of Dwayne Haskins,” Tomlin stated in a press release. “He shortly grew to become a part of our Steelers household upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one in all our hardest staff, each on the sphere and in our group. Dwayne was an excellent teammate however much more so an incredible pal to so many. I’m really heartbroken.”
Haskins was a first-round draft decide of the Washington Commanders in 2019, chosen at No. 15 total, after he threw for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns in his solely 12 months as a starter at Ohio State. In 2018, he completed third in Heisman Trophy voting, behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, after main Ohio State to a 13-1 report, together with a win within the Rose Bowl towards Washington. He accomplished 70 p.c of his passes that season and, at 6-foot-3, was projected to have an N.F.L. future for his accuracy as a pocket passer.
His faculty coach, City Meyer, wrote in a Twitter post that Haskins was “one of many best QB’s in Ohio State historical past, however a fair higher son, teammate and pal.”
However Haskins struggled in his first two N.F.L. seasons, successful three of his 13 begins in Washington whereas throwing 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and was benched in favor of Alex Smith. The Commanders launched him earlier than the tip of the 2020 season due to his efficiency, and for a number of violations of Covid-19 protocols.
“He was a younger man with an incredible quantity of potential who had an infectious persona,” Daniel and Tanya Snyder, the Commanders’ co-owners, stated in a press release.
The Steelers signed Haskins in January 2021 as a backup, however he didn’t play that season. In March, the Steelers re-signed him as a restricted free agent, and Haskins was anticipated to compete for the beginning job with Mason Rudolf and Mitchell Trubisky in coaching camp. Haskins had been coaching with teammates final week in Florida. His demise sparked an outpouring of help from N.F.L. gamers on social media.
“When Dwayne walked in to the locker room, I may inform he was an upbeat man,” Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt wrote in a Twitter post. “He was at all times making folks smile, by no means taking life without any consideration. His affect on me will final endlessly.”
