Dwayne Haskins

Dwayne Haskins
Name	Dwayne Haskins
Birth date	November 3, 1997
Birth place	Highland Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Death date	April 9, 2022
Death place	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Occupation	Professional football player
Position	Quarterback
College	Ohio State University

Dwayne Haskins was an American professional American football quarterback known for his collegiate record at Ohio State and his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team/Commanders and brief stints related to the NFL. He set passing records at Ohio State University and was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by Washington, attracting attention from fans, media, and analysts across ESPN, NFL Network, and national newspapers. His career, personal life, and sudden death generated tributes from teammates, coaches, and institutions in both college football and the professional ranks.

Early life and high school

Haskins was born in Highland Park, New Jersey and raised in the New Jersey area, attending Bergen Catholic High School and later transferring to multiple high schools before playing varsity football at St. Joseph High School and Warren Hills Regional High School. As a standout quarterback, he drew recruiting attention from Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan State, and Ohio State, earning scholarship offers and national rankings from outlets such as Rivals.com, Scout.com, and 247Sports. His high school performances put him on the radar of coaches including Urban Meyer, Ryan Day, and position coaches from top programs like Alabama and Clemson.

College career

At Ohio State University, Haskins competed for the starting job under head coach Urban Meyer and later Ryan Day, eventually becoming the starter for the Big Ten season. He led the Ohio State Buckeyes football to significant victories over programs such as Michigan, Penn State, and Indiana, breaking school records previously held by Troy Smith, Justin Zwick, and contemporaries like Braxton Miller. Haskins threw for over 4,000 yards and more than 50 touchdowns in 2018, earning accolades from organizations including the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, and selections to All-Conference teams alongside players from Alabama Crimson Tide football, Clemson Tigers football, Oklahoma, and LSU. His college career invited comparisons to quarterbacks such as J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, and Tua Tagovailoa as analysts from CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and The Athletic debated his NFL prospects.

Professional career

Haskins entered the 2019 NFL Draft and was selected in the first round by the Washington Football Team, joining roster peers including Adrian Peterson, Russell Wilson (as a comparison in media), and earlier Washington first-round quarterbacks like Robert Griffin III. In Washington, he worked under head coaches Ron Rivera and offensive coordinators similar to staffs with ties to New England Patriots coaching trees and personnel from Kansas City Chiefs evaluation rooms. His rookie season featured starts against teams such as the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles, and he faced criticism and support from analysts at Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, and SI.com. After Washington, Haskins signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and participated in practices and preseason activities under head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive staff with connections to Ben Roethlisberger and scouts from New York Giants. His professional trajectory included roster moves, practice squad designations, and interactions with agents from NFLPA-affiliated agencies, as well as training with quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr in offseason settings.

Playing style and legacy

Haskins was noted for his arm strength, pocket presence, and ability to make intermediate and deep throws, drawing stylistic comparisons to quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan. Scouts from NFL Scouting Combine reports and draft analysts at ESPN and NFL.com highlighted his pocket mechanics, decision-making under pressure, and mental processing similar to prospects evaluated in the same class, including Daniel Jones and Daniel Jones. His legacy in Ohio State Buckeyes football history includes single-season passing yard records and influence on subsequent Ohio State quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud and Mikey Keene, while his NFL tenure sparked discussions about development, coaching transitions, and quarterback evaluation across franchises like Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and other NFL teams. Analysts and historians compared his arc to other high-profile college-to-pro quarterbacks such as Johnny Manziel, Ryan Leaf, and Teddy Bridgewater in discussions about projection, opportunity, and system fit.

Personal life

Haskins maintained connections with family in New Jersey and friends from Ohio State University, participating in charity events and community outreach coordinated with organizations such as United Way chapters and university-affiliated foundations. He appeared in media interviews on platforms including College GameDay, The Dan Patrick Show, and local news affiliates in Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C., and he was represented by agents with ties to major sports agencies in New York City and Los Angeles. Haskins was photographed and profiled alongside teammates and contemporaries like Nick Bosa, Dwayne Haskins Jr. was never linked per guidelines, and peers such as Chase Young and J.K. Dobbins during his collegiate career.

Death and tributes

Haskins died in April 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prompting tributes from former teammates, coaches, and institutions, including Ohio State University, the Washington Commanders, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Memorials and statements came from figures such as Ryan Day, Mike Tomlin, and sports commentators on ESPN and NFL Network, with moments of silence held at games across FBS and NFL events. Tributes included social media posts from athletes like Terry McLaurin, Saquon Barkley, and coaches from programs including Penn State, Michigan, and Alabama, while sportswriters at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today published obituaries and retrospectives examining his life, career, and impact on college and professional football communities.

Category:1997 births Category:2022 deaths Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players Category:Washington Commanders players Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players