Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. died Saturday after getting struck by a car in South Florida.
Haskins, who was previously a quarterback for the Washington Football Team, now known as the Washington Commanders, was 24 years old and would have turned 25 on May 3. Details of the accident are limited, but his death was confirmed by his agent, Cedric Saunders.
“l am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins. 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,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.
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Haskins was in South Florida for a training session with other quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers for a training session, per ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.
Dwayne Haskins, a standout at Ohio State before becoming Washington’s first-round pick and playing in Pittsburgh, died this morning when he got hit by a car in South Florida, per his agent Cedric Saunders. Haskins would have turned 25 years old on May 3.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 9, 2022
Haskins, widely regarded as a top college football player in the United States, was mourned by the Commanders’ co-owners.
“We are devastated to hear the news of the tragic passing of Dwayne Haskins Jr. He was a young man with a tremendous amount of potential who had an infectious personality. To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. Our hearts and prayers are with the members of Dwayne’s family and all of those who knew him and loved him,” they said in a joint statement.
The quarterback joined the Steelers before the 2021 season after a stint in Washington in 2019 and a notable college football career at Ohio State University. The Steelers had signed him as the third-string quarterback, but he has sought to become the starting quarterback in recent months.
In 2019, Haskins became the first-round draft pick for the Washington Football Team and the No. 15 pick overall. However, he was released after two turbulent seasons.
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During his starting season in 2018, he threw 50 touchdown passes, setting a Big Ten record and delivering the Buckeyes a 13-1 record. That year, he received the third-most votes for the Heisman Trophy in recognition of his record as a quarterback.
Haskins is survived by his wife, Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins, and his family.
