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Dwayne Haskins certainly doesn't lack for confidence. Less than a week after the Washington Redskins ended his draft-night slide by selecting him with the fifteenth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the rookie quarterback asked and received permission from franchise legend Joe Theismann to wear his hallowed No. 7 jersey.
According to Grant Paulsen of 1067 The Fan, Haskins personally called Theismann to ask him about wearing No. 7.
Big #Redskins nugget: Joe Theismann says Dwayne Haskins has decided that he wants to wear No. 7. Theismann has given permission to the rookie QB to do so. Told us he just talked to him on the phone.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 1, 2019
Theismann played for the Redskins for the entirety of his 12-year NFL career. A two-time Pro Bowler and the 1983 NFL MVP, he led Washington to a 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. Theismann's career was ended prematurely on November 18th, 1985, when he suffered a comminuted compound fracture of his right leg while being tackled by New York Giants superstar Lawerence Taylor – one of the most infamous injuries in the history of professional sports.
Haskins, meanwhile, threw for 50 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 4,831 yards while completing a whopping 70 percent of his passes as a first-year starter for Ohio State in 2018. The redshirt sophomore was at his best when it mattered most, too, throwing for a combined 14 touchdowns and one interception over the Buckeyes’ last three games, including a key matchup against fourth-ranked and longtime rival Michigan in which he tossed six touchdowns and zero picks.
Once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, Haskins was the third quarterback selected on draft night, behind Oklahoma's Kyler Murray and Duke's Daniel Jones, who the Giants made the most controversial pick of the draft at No. 6. Though frustrated by his ultimate draft positions, Haskins has pledged to use his fall as motivation to prove doubters wrong.
