Dwayne Haskins, the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was killed when he was slammed by a dump truck while attempting to cross a highway on foot in South Florida, according to authorities.
The former Ohio State University standout and Heisman Trophy finalist died while he was only 24 years old.
Authorities have revealed only a few details regarding the circumstances surrounding his death thus far. Take a look at what we already know and don’t know about the deadly crash, his brief professional career, and the reactions of people who knew him.
The Fatal Crash
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Haskins was trying to cross Interstate 595’s westbound lanes near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County when he was struck by the dump truck, which was travelling westbound.
The incident was reported shortly after 6:30 a.m., according to the police department. It was unclear what motivated him to be “walking on (the roadway),” according to the police in a news release.
Further information about the events that lead up to the incident was not immediately accessible.
During the past several days, Haskins has been in South Florida working out with some of his Steelers colleagues, as evidenced by Instagram stories from both Haskins and running back Najee Harris.
His Short-Lived Football Career
Haskins, who played as a reserve for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, was set to begin his fourth season in the NFL.
It was at Ohio State that he first gained notoriety, setting numerous OSU and Big Ten Conference records as a redshirt sophomore in 2018. These records included single-season throwing yards of 4,831, touchdown passes of 50, and total offensive yards of 1,045 yards (4,939). He helped the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 13-1 record and a victory in the Rose Bowl, and he finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football.
Haskins was taken by Washington with the 15th overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draft, however he failed to live up to the expectations placed on him. He appeared in 16 games for Washington over the course of two seasons, posting a 3-10 record in 13 starts.
As a result of being benched during a defeat and being fined an undisclosed amount for breaching team Covid-19 guidelines by going maskless at his girlfriend’s birthday party, Haskins was released by the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2020, near the conclusion of his second season.
The Steelers re-signed him a month after he was released, yet he did not appear in a single regular-season game for the organisation. He spent the previous season as the Steelers’ third-string quarterback, behind Ben Roethlisberger, who is now retired, and backup Mason Rudolph, who was injured.
Haskins, who re-signed with the Steelers for a one-year deal earlier this month, was expected to battle for roster spots with Rudolph and new Steelers acquisition Mitchell Trubisky, according to reports.
“I believe I have what it takes to be a starter in this league. It was for this reason that I was picked “According to Steelers.com, Haskins made the statement in January. “I am certain that I possess the necessary abilities. It’s simply that I haven’t put everything together yet. In order to be in a position to play this season, I must complete this task during the offseason.”
Family Memorial Service
Haskins’ family will hold a number of services to commemorate his life next weekend, with a memorial ceremony to be held on April 23 in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, where Haskins was born and raised until he graduated from high school.
The following day, a vigil will be held at the high school where Haskins attended in Potomac, Maryland, to remember him.
The family chose various services “in order to share their son’s memory with family, coaches, teammates, and childhood friends,” according to the statement.
After hearing the news of their son’s death, Tamara and Dwayne Haskins, Sr., Haskins’ parents, released a statement on Tuesday expressing their gratitude for the outpouring of affection they have received for their son.
“Anyone who knew Dwayne knew that he put in a tremendous amount of effort to reach such a high degree of accomplishment at such a young age, and he was right. There were so many people who had an impact on his development into a top athlete, and we are extremely grateful to each and every one of them. This is an unbearable sadness, and we are grateful to everyone who has shared in our sorrow with us.”
How Teammates And Coaches Are Remembering Him
Dwayne Haskins was a member of the Washington Football Team for two seasons, appearing in 16 games, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Since Haskins’ death, his teammates and coaches who knew him have expressed their sympathies and remembered him.
In a statement released Monday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day stated that members of the squad were grieving and that the team will pay tribute to Haskins at its spring game on Saturday.
“When you think of Dwayne, the first thing that comes to mind is the compassion he had for everyone, especially his teammates and friends. He constantly made time after practise to spend time with family members and children,” he explained. I know he meant a great deal to me and my family, and he meant even more to this programme, and he will be greatly missed. Right now, it’s getting dangerously near to Saturday AM. It’s still difficult for us to get our feet under us and to see clearly at this point in time. “It’s hurting all of us,” he continued.
“Dwayne meant so much to so many people,” said Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward in a tweet.
The author stated, “His smile was contagious, and he was the kind of guy you wanted to be around.” “We are all in shock as a result of his passing. In addition, he will be sorely missed by the rest of the team. We gave up on you way too soon. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to get to know you. “Rest in peace, DH.”
Ron Rivera, Haskins’ previous head coach in Washington, expressed his “extremely saddened” response to the news of his former player’s death on Saturday.
It is stated in the statement that “Dwayne was an exceptionally gifted young man who had a long life ahead of him.” This is a terribly sad time, and I’m at a loss for what to say at this point. In expressing that he would be dearly missed by the rest of our team, I know I speak for the entire group.”
Chase Claypool, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, recalled Haskins’ selflessness during his final encounter with him.
“I was with you during your final moments, and I can’t help but think of how unselfish you were in those moments. Nothing else mattered to you than making sure that everyone around you was safe, and I can’t express my gratitude to you enough for that. “You embody everything I strive to be,” Claypool wrote on Twitter.
Roethlisberger remarked on Twitter that, despite the fact that he only knew Haskins for a brief period of time, he remembered him as “a young man who didn’t seem to have a bad day.”
“Every day, he arrived to work with a smile on his face, a burst of energy, and a heart full of love. I truly loved his enthusiasm and enthusiasm for the game, as well as his will to learn and strive to be the greatest. Roethlisberger expressed his sorrow by saying, “His smile and zest for life will be missed!” “I’ll say it again, just like I told you to your face, I still wish I had the ability to throw the ball as well as you,” he continued.
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