Remembering Dwayne Haskins
Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins warming up before an NFL game starts.
Pittsburg Steelers, former Washington Commanders, and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins tragically died on Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Haskin was 24 as he died from a dump truck when the quarterback was crossing I-595 and would have turned 25 on May 3.
The news came at 7 am in the morning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with the NFL family mourning Haskin’s death.
NFL insider Adam Schefter retweeted the NFLPA tweet of their tribute to Dwayne Haskins.
It was announced publicly by NFL insider Adam Schefter despite the controversial tweet he sent on Twitter at 9:58 am.
Although Haskins’ life was cut short way too soon, his career and life were a roller coaster with a mix of emotions.
Haskins was born in Highland Park, New Jersey in 1997, and his family moved to Potomac, Maryland to attend Bullis School.
During his time at Bullis School from 2013-2016, he recorded 5,308 yards as well as 54 touchdowns. Bullis School remembered Haskins with their track coach Joe Lee, who know Haskins during his time as the quarterback for the school, reacting to his death.
Following Haskins’ four-year stint with Bullis School, he chooses to join the Ohio State Buckeyes after originally committing to Maryland University over Rutgers.
Haskin said that the reason he chose Ohio State was that it was a “dream” of his to play for the university.
"This prestigious university best represents my family values, and playing under Urban Meyer's strong leadership abilities and a person that I can have a relationship with after football was important," Haskin said when committing to Ohio State in an ESPN article.
Succeeding Haskin’s arrival at Ohio State, he was redshirted as a freshman in 2016 as well as backing up starting quarterback J.T. Barrett.
Despite Haskins not starting his freshman year, he becomes the starting quarterback in his sophomore year following Barrett’s injury of a broken arm against rival Michigan State Spartans.
The 6-foot-3 quarterback recorded 565 yards on 40 complete and 57 attempted passing (70.2%) in his 2017-18 sophomore season.
During Haskins’ time with the Buckeyes, he accomplishes many records and awards such as:
Setting a Big Ten Conference record in passing efficiency (174%)
Setting a Big Ten Conference record in passing yards (4,831), pass completions (373), touchdown passes (50), total offense (4,939), and responsible for touchdowns (54) through a Buckeye season.
Setting a Big Ten Conference record with touchdown passes in a single game (6), which was against Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 6, 2018, as well as the Michigan Wolverines on Nov. 24, 2018.
Finalist for the 2018 Heisman Trophy along with Tua Tagovailoa which was won by Kyle Murray.
Chicago Tribune Silver Football award
Big Ten Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year
Big Ten Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year
Third-team Associated Press All-American
2017-18 Academic All-Big Ten Conference
2016-17 OSU Scholar-Athlete
Semifinalist for the Maxwell Award
Off the field, Haskin was two semesters shy to earn a degree in journalism. He was going to be a studio or game analyst on television if Haskins finish his degree, which was one of his post-NFL initiatives.
Haskins finishes his Buckeye career with 5,936 yards, 54 touchdowns, 70% from 413 completions and 590 attempts, nine interceptions, and he has a quarterback rating of 174.0.
Following Haskins’ college career at Ohio State, he declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Commanders as the 15th pick.
Dwayne Haskins wearing the draft hat as he stands in the crowd with his family during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019. He was drafted by the Commanders that night.
When Haskin arrived at the NFL as a pro, he was granted permission to use his jersey No. 7 by former Commanders quarterback Joe Theismann, whose career was ended due to his leg injury.
Haskins started his first NFL game in week four versus the New York Giants after journeyman quarterback Case Keenum had a poor performance by going only completing six passes in 11 attempts for 37 yards. During the game, Haskins also struggled by completing nine passes in 17 attempts for 107 yards.
Haskins had his first-career starting win was against Detroit Lions (19-16) following two losses as a starter against Minnesota Vikings (19-9) and Buffalo Bills (24-9).
During the Commanders’ win over the Lions, Haskins had recorded 156 passing yards and 28 rushing yards.
Following Haskins’ performance against the Lions, he was named NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
Haskins’ rookie season was cut short due to a high ankle injury in week 16 against the Giants.
In the 2020 season, Haskins had a disappointing season despite being one of the team captains and slimming down to 220 pounds.
The former Commander quarterback had some good statistical performances from his career-high (314 yards) against the Carolina Panthers to 295 yards against the Seattle Seahawks, but Haskins wasn’t able to consistently stay as the starter with Kyle Allen or Taylor Heinicke taking over the starting job when he gets injured or have a poor performance.
Haskins and the Commanders decided to part ways following the 20-13 loss to the Panthers.
On Jan. 21, 2021, Haskins signed with the Steelers a month after getting waived by the Commanders. he serves as the third-string quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph.
He was inactive except for one game in the 2021-22 season and signed a one-year restricted free agent tender on March 16, 2022, then died a month later.
Rob Szolosi’s thoughts on Dwayne Haskins’ death
With Haskins’s death, I find myself deeply distraught, disturbed, and hurt.
Not because of who he was on the football field, but of who he was as a person.
The tweets by Chase Claypool and TJ Watt showcase this. He was not just a football player, but a family man who cared about the community he worked in, the Pittsburgh community, and made a remarkable, lasting impact on it.
As journalists and as fans, I find that we seemingly forget that these are not just players wearing a jersey of our entertainment on a Sunday afternoon, but they’re humans just like the rest of us.
Humans with struggle, hardship, triumph, joy, and sadness. These are human beings with families and friends who live a normal life just like the rest of us, regardless of their money.
I feel that we failed to understand this as an NFL Community, as a Sports Community, and Dwayne Haskins’s death reminds us that every Sunday, we’re watching humans play football as well as watching people play a game.
We’re not watching their whole lives unfold, just their professional lives. In that way, here is a 24-year-old kid still learning and understanding adult life just like everyone else at the age, but never getting the opportunity to see the full potential of himself not only on the football field but in life.
I hope that we remember Haskins, the person, not just Haskins, the football player.
His life is a lesson in understanding that everyone’s life is fragile and that everyone is important regardless of the career path they choose.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool’s first response to Dwayne Haskin’s death.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool’s second response to Dwayne Haskins’ death.
Pittsburgh Steelers TJ Watt response to Dwayne Haskins’ death.
NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s response to Dwayne Haskins’ death.
Haskins’ legacy will not pertain to football, but to what he was as a human being. How players like Watt and Claypool feel toward Haskins made his impact on the Steelers something that can’t be compared to the stats and play in his career.
The family, friends, and fans will never forget what Haskins was as a person instead of an NFL player.
Rest in peace Haskins.
