Washington Football Team legend Joe Theismann gave Dwayne Haskins his blessing to wear his iconic jersey number back in 2019, but the relationship between the 2019 first-round pick and the former MVP/Super Bowl champion didn't go much farther than there.
“When (Haskins) got here, we had conversations and then — all of a sudden — I haven’t spoken to him all this year,” Theismann told 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen. “I did reach out at different times just to see how he was doing, (to) send my best to him and wish him luck and I never really got a response and so I just figured he was going to go on and do what he wanted to do and (I’d) leave him alone.“
“I’m not going to badger him,” Theismann added.
The news of Haskins' release is the top sports headline in the nation's capital just a day after the former first-round pick was waived by the Washington Football Team.
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The former Ohio State standout's tenure in Ashburn got off to a rocky start soon after he was drafted by the team, with reports coming out suggesting that he wasn't the consensus pick amongst the front office, and that team owner Daniel Snyder made the final decision.
"If only real personnel people made that 2019 pick," 106.7 The Fan's Rick Snider stated in his column. "Maybe things would be different."
After a tumultuous rookie season, Haskins was handed the keys to the offense ahead of the 2020 opener, with a new coaching regime in place to see if he could be the future face of the franchise.
It was all downhill from there.
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After a surprising upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, it appeared that Haskins had turned a corner, and maybe Snyder got the pick right and Washington had a quarterback for the foreseeable future.
They didn't.
The WFT went on to lose the next three games to the Cardinals, Browns, and Ravens, respectively, and Haskins was then benched in favor of journeyman Kyle Allen after reports circulated that the former was heard "gloating" about his stat line after the team's Week 4 loss to Baltimore.
Kyle Allen held down the role until being injured and had to undergo surgery on his dislocated ankle, leading to Alex Smith getting the nod to take the mantle.
Smith played admirably well as the starter, helping the WFT win three-straight games and assume first-place in the NFC East.
Then in Week 14, Smith suffered a calf-strain in the matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, and did not return. Haskins was thrust into the spotlight once again, and despite struggling, the sensational play of the defense helped the Burgundy and Gold record its fourth-straight win.
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With Smith unable to suit up in Week 15 against the Seahawks, Haskins got the nod and struggled mightily.
Following the loss, Haskins was identified in photos circulating online at a social gathering without a mask, violating league and team COVID protocols.
Haskins was stripped of his role as captain and fined by the team, but was still allowed to suit up in Week 16 in a division-clinching game at home against the 4-10 Carolina Panthers, Rivera's old team.
Haskins struggled once again, with the Burgundy and Gold unable to keep up, and after three turnovers and being unable to spark a comeback, he was benched in favor of backup Taylor Heinicke, who finished out the game.
Haskins was then demoted to third-string Monday morning, with Smith being named the starter in the season finale -- should he be able to suit up -- against the Eagles, and Heinicke being named the backup.
It was then announced that Haskins had been released by the team.
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Theismann went on to discuss the bond that is shared by those lucky enough to play quarterback in the National Football League.
“Playing in the National Football League is such a privilege, and to be one of 32 quarterbacks in this game? There are tons of billionaires in this world, there are CEO’s, there are these celebrities, TV stars, but there is only 32 quarterbacks," Theismann told Paulsen.
“That is a cherished position, and if you can be a part of that fraternity, it’s special.”
Will Haskins get another opportunity to prove he has what it takes to make it in this league? Only time will tell.
Listen at the 3:15 mark below.