Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died on Saturday morning after he was struck by a dump truck while walking on a South Florida highway.
The 24-year-old was a standout at Ohio State University before he was selected 15th overall by the Washington Commanders in the 2019 NFL Draft. Upon his arrival, he worked with current Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was serving as the Commanders quarterbacks’ coach.
O’Connell spent one season with Haskins before leaving to become the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator. But O’Connell was one of many to post a tribute on social media, praising his optimism and outlook on life.
Struggling to find the words to express how crushing this news is today. Dwayne had such a positive energetic outlook on life and always treated people with genuine kindness. So Talented and with so much positive ahead in his life. Thoughts and Prayers to the Haskins Family. pic.twitter.com/BsfEYtBOLu
— Kevin O'Connell (@KevOC7) April 9, 2022
“Struggling to find the words to express how crushing this news is today,” O’Connell wrote. “Dwayne had such a positive energetic outlook on life and always treated people with genuine kindness. So talented and with so much positive ahead in his life. Thoughts and prayers to the Haskins Family.”
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns also sent his condolences. Towns grew up in Edison, N.J. which is two miles away from Haskins’s hometown of Highland Park and took to Twitter to post a childhood picture of the two men.
Since we was kids, you was always a real one. Rest up brother, til we meet again đź•Š @dh_simba7 pic.twitter.com/ENfXL2zBor
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 9, 2022
Haskins spent three seasons in the NFL with his first two coming with the Commanders.
He signed with the Steelers prior to the 2021 season and spent last year behind Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph as Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback.
