Haskins was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but was released after less than two seasons due to inconsistent play and questions over his work ethic. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 and served as a backup until his death the following off-season when he was fatally struck by a vehicle.
Haskins redshirted his first year with the Buckeyes in 2016. The following year, he was the backup to J. T. Barrett.[9][10] He finished the season completing 40 of 57 passes for 565 yards and four touchdowns.[11] Haskins then went on to have a record-setting campaign in his sophomore season in 2018, which was his lone starting season at the school.[12][13] He claimed the single-season passing and touchdown records for Ohio State and the Big Ten by eclipsing the 4,000-passing yards mark and throwing 50 touchdowns, making him just one of seven NCAA quarterbacks to ever achieve the latter in a single season.[14]
Additionally, he claimed school records in total offense in a season (4,900+ yards), total offensive yards in a game (477) and total passing yards in a game (470). In all 12 of his starts, he threw for more than 225 passing yards, including eight games of more than 300 yards, and four games of more than 400. He threw for 499 yards and five touchdowns in the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game, while throwing three touchdowns in the 2019 Rose Bowl, winning the MVP award in both games for his performance.[15][16]
Haskins was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 15th overall.[25] Despite his high school and college jersey number of 7 being unofficially retired by the Redskins in honor of quarterback Joe Theismann, whose career ended with a leg injury in 1985, Haskins requested and was granted permission from him to wear it.[26] Haskins signed his four-year rookie contract on May 9, 2019,[27] worth $14.37 million, including an $8.47 million signing bonus.[28]
Haskins after his first win as a starting NFL quarterback, 2019
Haskins saw his first action with the team in a Week 4 game against the New York Giants in relief of Case Keenum, who was benched for poor performance. In the game, Haskins also struggled, throwing for 107 yards and three interceptions, including a pick-six, as the Redskins lost 24–3.[29] During a Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Haskins again replaced Keenum, who left the game due to a concussion. He finished the game with 33 passing yards and an interception as the Redskins lost 19–9.[30] The following week Haskins made his first career start against the Buffalo Bills, finishing with 144 passing yards as the team lost 24–9.[31]
Haskins' first win as a starter came during Week 12 against the Detroit Lions, where he finished with 156 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, and an interception in the 19–16 victory.[32] For his efforts, he was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.[33] In Week 16 against the Giants, Haskins threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns before being carted off the field due to an ankle injury suffered on the first play of the third quarter, which also made him miss the following week's game.[34][35]
Prior to the 2020 season, Haskins lost around seven-percent in total body fat and was named the starter and one of the team captains.[36][37][38] In a Week 3 loss against the Cleveland Browns, Haskins threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.[39] The following week against the Baltimore Ravens, he threw for a career-high 314 yards in another loss.[40] Haskins was benched in favor of Kyle Allen prior to the Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams due to coaches being unimpressed with his work ethic and performance.[41][42] In October 2020, he was fined US$4,833 for breaking league COVID-19 protocols after making a reservation for a family friend at the team hotel in New York prior to a game against the Giants.[43]
Haskins remained as the team's backup until the Week 14 game against the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in the second half after Alex Smith left the game due to a calf strain.[44] He then started the following week's game against the Seattle Seahawks as Smith had yet to recover from injury. In the game, Haskins threw for 295 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions during a 20–15 loss.[45] Following the game, Haskins was photographed attending his girlfriend's birthday party without wearing a face mask. Due to breaking COVID-19 protocols again, he was fined $40,000 by the team and lost his status as a captain.[46] Despite that, he started the Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers but was benched for Taylor Heinicke in the fourth quarter after throwing 14 of 28 for 154 yards and two interceptions, finishing with a passer rating of 36.9 in a 20–13 loss.[47] Haskins was released by the team the day after, with head coach Ron Rivera saying he believed that it benefited both parties if they went their separate ways.[48]
Haskins was a Christian and was married to Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins.[53][54] His mentor during high school and college was NFL wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, whom he met through Mohamed Jabbie, one of his best friends and Sanu's nephew.[55] A New Jersey native, Haskins grew up a New York Giants fan.[55]
Haskins went by the nickname Simba, taken from the protagonist of the 1994 film The Lion King. He adopted it as a child due to him having an afro at the time that reminded his mother of a lion's mane. He used the nickname and the film's coming-of-age story as motivation and incorporated it into his personal clothing brand, Kingdom of Pride.[56]