Dwayne Haskins dies in a traffic accident at age 24
“I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins," head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement Saturday.
Dwayne Haskins, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, died in a car accident in West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday. Haskins was 24 years old at the time of his death.
In a statement released on Saturday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the tragedy.
"With the terrible demise of Dwayne Haskins, I am devastated and at a lost for words," Tomlin remarked. "Upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, he soon became a member of our Steelers family and was one of our hardest workers, both on and off the field."
According to the Florida Highway Patrol in West Palm Beach, Haskins was engaged in a "fatal vehicle vs pedestrian crash" early Saturday morning at roughly 6:30 a.m.
In an email to NBC News, Lt. Indiana Miranda said the football player was strolling on "a limited access facility for unknown reasons" as he attempted to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 with oncoming traffic. He collided with an oncoming dump truck at that point.
Miranda said Haskins was declared dead at the scene and that the event is still being investigated as a traffic homicide.
"Dwayne was a fantastic teammate, but he was also a fantastic friend to a lot of people. "I am heartbroken," Tomlin expressed his sorrow. "During this terrible moment, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family."
Haskins, a former great quarterback at Ohio State University, will turn 25 next month.
Despite only starting for one season, Haskins established himself as one of college football's finest players, setting Big Ten records and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2018.
Ohio State paid tribute to Haskins on Twitter, calling him a "Leader. Legend." "I'll always be a Buckeye."
Joe Burrow, a former Ohio State quarterback who now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals, also paid tribute to him on social media, writing, "Tough to find the words... you will be missed."
Haskins made his NFL debut in 2019 as a first-round selection pick for the Washington Commanders, where he played for two seasons.
“I am absolutely heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of Dwayne Haskins Jr. Dwayne was a talented young man who had a long life ahead of him," Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera said in a statement.
"I know I speak for the rest of our team in saying he will be sorely missed," Rivera said. "Our entire team is sending our heartfelt condolences and thoughts and prayers to the Haskins family at this time."
Haskins' family and loved ones received "deepest sympathies" from the NFL.
Haskins signed a one-year deal with the Steelers last year, but he never saw action with the team during the regular season. This week, Haskins was in Florida working out with many other Steelers skill position players in preparation for the next season.
TJ Watt, a Steelers teammate, lamented Haskins' death on Twitter, writing, "The world lost a fantastic person today."
"When Dwayne first walked into the locker room I could tell he was an upbeat guy," Watt said. "He was always making people smile, never taking life for granted. His impact on me will last a forever."
