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'Those who knew him knew how special he was' — Steelers, others mourn Dwayne Haskins | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

'Those who knew him knew how special he was' — Steelers, others mourn Dwayne Haskins

Chris Adamski
Chris Adamski
4934081_web1_AP21168722095396
AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle in Florida. He was 24.

Teammates took to social media to react in shock, offer prayers and pay tribute to Dwayne Haskins, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback who died Saturday morning after an auto accident on a highway in south Florida.

Haskins was 24.

“Those who knew him knew how special he was,” wrote a message posted to the verified Twitter account of linebacker Alex Highsmith. “Heartbreaking, RIP Dwayne. Lord be with his family.”

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward had similar sentiments.

“Dwayne meant so much to so many people,” he wrote.

Haskins was known as a friendly and outgoing type whose personality might have been dwarfed only by his prodigious arm strength. Among scores of messages posted to verified social-media accounts of Steelers players was one from team most valuable player T.J. Watt, who said Haskins “was always making people smile.”

Offensive lineman Chuks Okorafor reacted with grief, asking on an Instagram story, “God this one makes no sense…. Won’t be the same (without) you. R.I.P. Young King.”

Haskins had the nickname “Simba” because of his love of the movie “The Lion King” as a youth.

“God you called him home way too young,” Okorafor wrote on Twitter.

The official account for the NFL Players Association offered prayers to Haskins’ family while stating: “He loved his family, he loved his teammates, he loved the game and he will be greatly missed.”

The player who arguably spent the most professional time at the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex facility with Haskins was succinct in publicly expressing his sorrow. “Devastated,” wrote quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Among teammates who posted Instagram stories paying tribute were wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who, accompanied by a photo of he and Haskins at practice wrote, “I love you bra! You had so much ahead of you!”

Cornerback Cameron Sutton wrote, accompanied by a heart and prayer hands, “I am in such a state of shock. Such a disbelief state. It’s an ugly world, man.”

Wrote defensive lineman Tyson Alualu: “So crazy. Love you bro… Def gonna miss you.”

Mike Sullivan spent his first season as Steelers quarterback coach working with Haskins. He was the assistant coach on the team most closely associated with Haskins. He posted a picture on his Twitter account in which he is shaking hands with Haskins.

Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge reflected on his time coaching Haskins during the young quarterback’s time playing for USA Football. Hoge said he joined the organization and Steeler Nation in the “grieving process.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey also expressed his condolences in a tweet, and the Pittsburgh Penguins held a moment of silence Saturday before playing the Washington Capitals.

While there was anguish in the loss and tribute to Haskins’ life, some players reacted in anger because of the nature by which many of them perhaps first learned of the news. ESPN reporter Adam Schefter’s tweet was the first widespread distribution of word of Haskins’ death.

The initial wording of one of Schefter’s early messages termed Haskins as “a standout at Ohio State before struggling to catch on with Washington and Pittsburgh in the NFL.”

Many players across the league, along with fans and other observers, criticized Schefter for including the word “struggling.” (Haskins was cut less than two years into his career and was only 3-10 as an NFL starting quarterback). Steelers safety Marcus Allen voiced his opinion, writing “Why include that (expletive) in your tweet !!? Y’all reporters ain’t got no heart.”

Offensive lineman Kevin Dotson retweeted multiple messages from others criticizing Schefter, and he also posted multiple messages of his own thoughts of grief. One read, “Think before you spit venom out there on things that don’t matter cause you never know what tomorrow holds.”

A pair of area natives who play in the NFL reacted with sadness and sorrow while making an appearance at a fundraiser Saturday at South Allegheny High School.

Former Clairton and Pitt star Tyler Boyd said he saw Haskins a few weeks ago at party hosted by former Pitt and Central Catholic standout Damar Hamlin.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Boyd, a receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. “I hate to see this. Life is short, man. You’ve got to enjoy your life every day.”

Boyd and former Steelers and Penn State tight end Jesse James were on hand on behalf of the Tony Strong Foundation. James, a South Allegheny alumnus who played for the Chicago Bears last season, called word of Haskins’ death “really tough news.”

“It’s very sad,” James said. “You just never know what will happen in life. You have to be in the mindset to live every day to the fullest.”

A former Penn State star, Allen encapsulated the overall mood by writing, “Rest In Peace Dwayne… this world don’t make no sense.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Staff writer JoAnne Klimovich-Harrop contributed.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.

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