Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback, Outspoken Christian Dwayne Haskins Hit, Killed by Dump Truck

Kayla Koslosky

Kayla Koslosky is the former Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper…
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Updated Apr 13, 2022

On Saturday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins, 24, was walking down a highway in South Florida when he was hit by a dump truck and killed.

According to Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Indiana Miranda, Haskins was "attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 when there was oncoming traffic."

"He was just walking on the highway and got hit," Miranda added, noting that the reason he was walking on the highway remains unknown.

Haskins was pronounced dead on the scene just after 6:30 am.

The Associated Press reports that the interstate was shut down for several hours following the accident. Further, a "traffic homicide investigation" has been opened.

"I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins," Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.

"He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of the hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time," he concluded.

Statement from Head Coach Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/hI5QaKzBUq
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 9, 2022

Before going to the Steelers, Haskins was drafted out of Ohio State University by the Washington football team in 2019.

Washington coach Ron Rivera said in a statement that he was "at a loss for words" after learning of Haskins' death.

"Dwayne was a talented young man who had a long life ahead of him. This is a very sad time, and I am honestly at a loss for words," Rivera said in a press release. "I know I speak for the rest of our team in saying he will be sorely missed. Our entire team is sending our heartfelt condolences and thoughts and prayers to the Haskins family at this time," he concluded.

Urban Meyer, the coach at Ohio State when Haskins played there, told the Columbus Dispatch that he was "heartbroken" over the athlete's death.

"He was one of the sweetest kids. The players all loved him. My daughter (Nicki Meyer Dennis) just showed me a picture of him holding our grandson. I'm just heartbroken for that family," he said.

The current head coach at Ohio State, Ryan Day, also issued a statement following Haskins' death, calling the loss "extremely difficult to process."

"The loss of Dwayne is beyond tragic and extremely difficult to process," Day wrote on Twitter.

"For those who knew him closely, he was much more than a great football player. He had a giant heart, old soul and an infectious smile. The Ohio State community and our entire football program are heartbroken," he concluded.

The loss of Dwayne is beyond tragic and extremely difficult to process. For those who knew him closely, he was much more than a great football player. He had a giant heart, old soul and an infectious smile. The Ohio State community and our entire football program are heartbroken.
— Ryan Day (@ryandaytime) April 9, 2022

According to CBN News, Haskins was outspoken about his Christian faith.

While playing for Ohio State, Haskins, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate, reportedly exchanged Bible verses with fellow candidate Tua Tagovailoa of the University of Alabama.

Decision magazine also reported that Haskins regularly quoted "Jeremiah 29:11; Joshua 1:9; Philippians 4:13" and Isaiah 12:2.

"I want to use my platform, use my place in this world right now as a way to benefit and inspire others, and give back to the community, and be someone that they look up to," Haskins told the outlet after he was drafted to Washington in 2019. "That is something I feel like God would want for me to do."

He also regularly took to social media to share about his faith or simply to share Bible verses.

Haskins played as the Ohio State starting quarterback in 2018, where he threw 50 touchdown passes and over 4,800 yards. He had a completion rate of 70 percent. That year he was also named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year and was nominated for the Heisman trophy, though he lost out to Kyler Murray of the University of Oklahoma.

In 2019 he was drafted by Washington as the 15^th overall pick in the first round of the draft. As a rookie, he started in seven games, with the team only winning two. In his second season with Washington, he started in six games but only won one, leading to his release from the team. In 2021 he signed with the Steelers.

He leaves behind his wife, Kalabrya Haskins.

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Kayla Koslosky is the former Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper. She has also contributed to IBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com.