Brooke Pryor will be on SportsCenter to talk about the time she spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is a time and a place for this. The quarterback held a microphone in one hand and balanced a children's book in the other while sitting next to a teddy bear. He was surrounded by students at Fulton Elementary, a public school 5 miles from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice facility, for Read Across America Day. The students stared as the quarterback read aloud and paused to show the illustrations before turning the page. The kids jumped at the chance to ask a real life Steeler a question when he finished. 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. He hugged one of the students 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. Haskins died after being hit by a dump truck.
• Haskins' death is a tale of potential taken far too soon
• Work in community helped define Haskins
He spent 15 months in Pittsburgh, hoping to get a fresh start and a second chance. It wasn't just about starting a career in football. Being a good teammate, finding his voice as a leader, having a positive influence in the community, and growing into the person he wanted to be were some of the things that were important to Haskins.
It takes a lot of work to be a mature person. It is very easy to go back to doing simple things when you are a kid. I have to be a leader for other men. I feel like earning respect is something I have been trying to do since I got here as far as getting here early, staying late, meeting with coaches, watching more film, and talking to guys at lunch. I can help make the guys around me play for me.
The impact in Pittsburgh can't be measured in a stat line. He never played a snap for the game. Even if he had, that wasn't important. His time as a Steeler was not defined by that.
He did away from the field.
On Wednesday, @dh_simba7 & @ckuntz24 visited some local elementary schools to read to the classes for #NationalReadAcrossAmericaDay. pic.twitter.com/yiXgNNSGym
— Steelers Community Relations (@SteelersCR) March 2, 2022
He volunteered his time to help others in his new home at the community outreach events. He jumped in right away, helping to give out backpacks, school supplies and hygiene kits at a Pittsburgh public schools back-to-school event. A group of local kids were shopping for winter gear at Dick's Sporting Goods when Haskins and eight teammates took them. He delivered Christmas gifts, food, shoes, socks and health care items to Pittsburgh organizations in December.
He was one of the hardest workers on the team and in the community, according to coach Mike Tomlin.
At 24 years old, he had a lot of life left to live. He lived a lot in a short amount of time.
He shattered long-standing records at Ohio State when he was a child. He was drafted in the first round by the Washington Commanders. He was given a second chance in Pittsburgh after a rocky start to the NFL.
There were many layers to his personality. He wanted to make others happy and be a positive force in his community.
On Wednesday, the @steelers, @dh_simba7, and @ckuntz24 visited Pittsburgh Arlington and Pittsburgh Fulton to read to the classes for #NationalReadAcrossAmericaDay. Thank you, @SteelersCR and Blayre Holmes-Davis, for this special opportunity! #PPSreads #PPSLiteracyWeek2022 pic.twitter.com/lESJ9LY18G
— Pgh Public Schools (@PPSnews) March 4, 2022
To a group of young students at Arlington Elementary, Haskins read from a children's book written by Tony Dungy. The little brother of Dungy is having a hard day in third grade. He hasn't found his special talent yet, so he is frustrated.
He wants to make people happy, that's what he said to the class. Throughout the book, he learns that he can do anything.
Haskins was in the same situation as Linden, figuring things out for himself. He worked to make people happy as he made the most of his second chance, but his journey ended abruptly on a highway in Florida.
I still think I have a ways to go, but as far as being comfortable in my own skin, I feel like I have done that. The players, the weight room coaches, the scouts, and the guys in the building are learning. It's important to work with guys around you to get them to believe in you.
I feel like I'm getting closer to who I want to be.
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