Former Ohio State standout and recently re-signed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was fatally hit by a dump truck Saturday morning in South Florida.
Trying to cross a highway on foot, the 2018 Heisman Trophy finalist was in the area training with some Steelers teammates. The 24-year-old in March re-signed in Pittsburgh after serving as the third-string signal-caller last year.
Haskins was attempting to cross Interstate 595 west for unknown reasons around 6:30 a.m. when the incident occurred.
“I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time.”
Haskins was expected to compete with Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky for the starting job in 2022—his fourth in the league—following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger.
“I feel like I can be a starter in this league; I got drafted for that reason,” Haskins said in January. “I definitely believe I have the talent to. I just haven’t put it all together yet. And that’s something I have to do this offseason to put myself in position to play.”
Haskins set Ohio State Big Ten records as a redshirt sophomore in 2018, including single-season passing yards (4,831), touchdown passes (50), and total offensive yards (4,939). He earned a third-place finish in Heisman voting after that season.
Washington took Haskins 15th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he played 16 games—13 starts—across two seasons for the club before his unceremonious release in December 2020.
“He came to work every day with a smile on his face and energy and love in his heart. I really enjoyed his passion and love for the game and wanting to learn and be the best. His smile and zeal for life will be missed!” Roethlisberger said. “I’ll say it again just like I told you to your face, I still wish I could throw the ball like you.”
Others around the league shared that sentiment:
