Dwayne Haskins – The death of an athlete, especially young ones, is always a major loss. Unfortunately, Dwayne Haskins Jr. passed away in the off-season from a car accident in April. But, while the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback may have died young, he left behind a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.
Who is Dwayne Haskins Jr?
Dwayne Haskins Jr. was an American football quarterback who played in the top flight of football for three seasons.
He previously played for Ohio State at the college level, setting the Big Ten Conference records for single-season passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2018.
In the 2019 NFL Draft, Haskins was picked by the Washington Redskins but was later released in less than two seasons for his inconsistency and questionable work ethic.
By 2021, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, serving as a backup before his untimely death.
College Career
During his first year with the Buckeyes, Haskins redshirted before playing backup to J.T. Barrett in his sophomore year.
That season, he completed 40 of 57 passes for 565 yards and bagged four touchdowns.
In 2018, Dwayne Haskins set a record for his lone starting season.
His most incredible feat was eclipsing the 4,000-passing yards mark and throwing 50 touchdowns, giving him the bragging right of being one of the seven NCAA quarterbacks to grab the achievement in a single season.
Haskins raised the bar in total offense, total offensive yards, and total yards in a single game.
His performances in the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game and the 2019 Rose Bowl earned him the MVP award.
Professional Career
2019 Season
In January 2019, Haskins decided to forgo his remaining two years of college football to enter the NFL Draft.
He was the 15th pick overall when the Washington Redskins opted to sign him in the first round.
Dwayne Haskins took on the number 7 jersey with the blessing of quarterback Joe Theismann.
During his first game, Haskins showed poor form as he struggled against the New York Giants.
It wasn’t until the game against the Buffalo Bills that the athlete finally got the nod to start. Unfortunately, however, the game ended in a loss.
Haskins finally bagged his first win as a starter against the Detroit Lions.
When the Redskins faced off against the Giants in Week 16, Haskins suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the next game.
2020 Season
Dwayne Haskins received the honor of being a starter and one of the team captains.
The season would prove to be one of the most challenging as his performance and work ethic dented his career.
By October, he received a fine for breaking league COVID-19 protocols.
Although he managed to get some game time, Haskins would again break COVID-19 protocols, getting slapped with a heavy fine and losing his status as a captain.
He played his last game for the Redskins in a loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On January 21, 2021, Dwayne Haskins signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was named the third-string quarterback.
He was largely inactive for the season save for one game.
Death
On April 9, 2022, Haskins was struck by a dump truck while attempting to cross Interstate 595 on foot.
Haskin’s wife said he was on his way to train with his Steelers teammates but that the rented vehicle ran out of gasoline, explaining why he was on foot.
Toxicology reports indicated that Dwayne Haskins was legally drunk and took drugs before his death.
