Dwayne Haskins’ time in Pittsburgh highlighted by work in the community – Pittsburgh Steelers Blog

PITTSBURGH — Sitting beside a larger-than-life chocolate-brown teddy bear, quarterback Dwayne Haskins held a microphone in one hand and balanced a children’s book in the other.

He was surrounded by students at Fulton Elementary, a public school 5 miles from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice facility, for Read Across America Day in early March. The students stared, rapt as the quarterback read aloud and paused to show the auditorium the illustrations before he turned the page.

When he finished, the kids eagerly raised their hands, jumping at the opportunity to ask a real life Steeler a question. One by one, the kids walked up to Haskins, who wore his black and gold No. 3 jersey over a maroon sweatsuit, and asked him a question into the microphone. He answered every student, even hugging one as she threw her arms around him.

A month later, his promising life was cut short when a dump truck struck him as he attempted to cross I-595 in South Florida early Saturday morning.

Haskins spent 15 months in Pittsburgh, a place he hoped would bring a fresh start and a second chance. It wasn’t just about jump-starting an NFL career. It was about focusing on the things that were truly important to Haskins: being a good teammate, finding his voice as a leader, having a positive influence in the community, growing into the person he wanted to be.

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” Haskins said during training camp last August. “Just being a mature person, it takes a lot of work. It’s very easy to go back to doing easy stuff as a kid. I have to try and be an adult and lead other men. I feel like earning respect is something I’ve been trying to do since I got here as far as getting here early, staying late, meeting with coaches, watching more film, spending time throwing with guys, talking to guys at lunch I don’t normally talk to every day. Small…