Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died early Saturday morning after being hit by a dump truck whereas touring on a South Florida freeway. Haskins was 24 years previous.
Florida Freeway Patrol spokesman Lt. Indiana Miranda mentioned Haskins was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
“He was making an attempt to cross the western lanes of Interstate 595 when there was oncoming site visitors,” Miranda mentioned in an emailed assertion.
She did not say why Haskins was on the freeway close to Fort Lauderdale on the time. The accident triggered the freeway to be closed for a number of hours, and Miranda mentioned it was an “open investigation right into a site visitors murder.”
Haskins has been coaching in South Florida with different Steelers gamers, operating their backs and huge receivers.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin He said in a statement. “He shortly grew to become a part of the Steelers household upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was considered one of our most hard-working employees, each on the sector and in our group. Dwayne was an excellent teammate, however an excellent good friend to so many. Actually heartbreaking.
“Our ideas and prayers are along with his spouse Calabria and all his household throughout this troublesome time.”
After a distinguished 2018 season at Ohio State, Haskins was named fifteenth total by the Washington Leaders within the 2019 draft.
Haskins spent two turbulent seasons with Washington earlier than signing in Pittsburgh previous to final season.
“We’re shocked to listen to of the tragic dying of Dwayne Haskins Jr.,” co-owners Daniel and Tania Snyder mentioned in an announcement. “He was a younger man of huge potential who had an infectious character. To say we had been damaged is an understatement. Our hearts and prayers are with the Dwayne household and all who knew and cherished him.”
“Dwayne was a gifted younger man with a protracted life forward,” captains coach Ron Rivera mentioned in an announcement. “It is a very unhappy time and I’m frankly at a loss. I do know I communicate for the remainder of our workforce to say will probably be drastically missed. Our total workforce sends our heartfelt condolences, ideas and prayers to the Haskins household right now.”
Haskins performed 15 video games over two seasons with Washington, gathering a quarterly whole of 29.4 — the league common over that interval was 63.5. He threw 12 landing passes to 14 interceptions.
Haskins’ time in Washington began off considerably controversially, as scouts and coaches lobbied towards being drafted with the fifteenth decide – however Snyder wished him. Haskins was a giant title domestically, having starred for 3 seasons at Police Excessive College in Potomac, Maryland.
Haskins began seven video games in his rookie yr and the primary 4 the next season, however was fired after a 3-10 loss to Baltimore. Washington launched Haskins later that season, unclaimed in waivers. He signed a backup/future contract with Pittsburgh in January 2023.
Haskins mentioned he was humbled by the choice, and emphasised that he was eager to work exhausting and take up as a lot as attainable from Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph. He made the listing because the third man however solely wore garments as soon as, and was a reserve within the draw with Detroit after placing Roethlisberger into COVID-19 protocol the night time earlier than the sport.
Keep in mind Roethlisberger Haskins in a tweetwriting, “I had the privilege of solely understanding D-Hask for some time, however in that point I met a man who had by no means had a nasty day. He got here to work day by day with a smile on his face and vitality and love in his coronary heart… I want we had extra time collectively on this earth, however I’ll cherish the time and laughter we had!”
In response to the information of Haskins’ dying, Rudolph simply tweet“Destroyed.”
Steelers participant TJ Wat Haskins recalled him as an “optimistic man”.
Immediately the world has misplaced an excellent individual. When Dwayne first walked into the locker room, I may inform he was an upbeat man. He all the time made folks smile, by no means took life as a right. His affect on me will final perpetually.
– TJ Watt (@TJWatt) April 9, 2023
Steelers huge receiver Chase Claypool posted a message emotional tweetsharing that he hung out with Haskins this weekend.
“You spent your final moments with you and I can not assist however assume how selfless you had been in these moments,” Claypool wrote in his tweet. “All you cared about was ensuring everybody round you was okay and I can not thanks sufficient for that. You might be what I attempt for.”
Each Tomlin and normal supervisor Kevin Colbert have praised Haskins for his enchancment since becoming a member of the workforce, and the Steelers re-signed him to a one-year deal as a restricted free agent in March. He was anticipated to compete with Rudolph and Mitch Trubesky for a spot.
“We’re excited to see what Dwayne can ship, each from competitors, and maybe even growing as a begin,” Colbert mentioned in January.
Haskins had his largest success on the bottom in Ohio. After spending his first two seasons behind JT Barrett, Haskins defeated Joe Burrow to be the Buckeyes quarterback within the 2018-19 season.
Haskins supported the Ohio State teaching employees’s choice by delivering maybe the best season in this system’s historical past. He set the Large Ten’s single-season data for passing yards (4831), touchdowns (50) and whole offensive yards (4,939), in addition to a complete of 28 college data.
A record-breaking yr noticed Haskins named to the Heisman Cup Ultimate and a 3rd AP All-American workforce.
In his final sport as Buckeye, Haskins threw three landing passes and for 251 yards in a Rose Bowl victory over Washington.
“Dwayne’s loss is past tragic and really troublesome to take care of,” mentioned present Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who was Haskins’ coach in addition to Backie’s appearing coach in 2018, Posted on Twitter. “For individuals who knew him intently, he was greater than only a nice soccer participant. He had an enormous coronary heart, an previous soul, and an infectious smile. The Ohio group and your complete soccer program are heartbroken.”
Chief. Explanatory title. Endlessly Buckeye. pic.twitter.com/yxwaIewN9V
Ohio State Soccer (OhioStateFB) April 9, 2023
The varsity additionally launched a file statment: “The Ohio Division of Athletics is deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of Dwayne Haskins Saturday morning. We’re fascinated about your complete Haskins household throughout this troublesome time. Our prayers are with the household, and along with his present and former teammates, coaches, pals and kin.”
“Heartbroken to listen to of Dwayne Haskins Jr’s loss,” former Buckeyes coach City Meyer Saturday tweet. “My ideas and prayers exit to his superb household. One of many best QB in Ohio historical past, however even the perfect son, colleague, and good friend. God bless you!!”
The Pittsburgh Penguins noticed a minute’s silence for Haskins forward of their Saturday afternoon sport towards the Washington Capitals.
Info from ESPN’s John Keim and The Related Press was used on this report.
