The parents of former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. say they’re not attending his funeral service in Pittsburgh on Friday.
Dwayne Sr. and Tamara Haskins said they do not want their son’s funeral to be the first time they meet the 24-year-old’s wife, Kalabrya.
“We have never met or spoken to the wife, and we didn’t want our son’s funeral service to be the place we met her for the first time,” said the couple in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.
Haskins’ parents announced two memorials services in New Jersey, where he was born and Maryland, where the quarterback went to school. However, the Steelers organization released information regarding a “celebration of life” at Allegheny Center Alliance Church in Pittsburgh on Friday, with a visitation at 10 a.m. and services to follow at 11 a.m, The Root reported.
News Onyx previously reported that Haskins was killed on April 9 after being struck by a dump truck as he attempted to cross an interstate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. According to Highway Patrol, Haskins was also struck by a second vehicle, the incident reported stated.
According to a 911 call, Kalabrya called authorities from their Pittsburgh home to inform them that he had run out of gas and was walking to get assistance. She had called 911 after she didn’t receive any updates from him.
Haskins’ tragic death came three weeks before his 25th birthday on May 3, one month after he resigned from the Steelers.
He was born in Highland Park, New Jersey, and moved to Maryland in the 9th grade.
Haskins was drafted to The Washington Football Team in 2019 during his rookie season before signing with the Steelers.
Haskins and his wife, a former Michigan State University women’s basketball player, got married in March 2021.
The two memorial services will be held on Saturday, in Rockland Township, New Jersey, and Sunday, at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland.
