Former Ohio State quarterback JT Barrett is back in the NFL, this time as a coach.
The Detroit Lions hired Barrett as an offensive assistant on Saturday. This comes nearly two years after Barrett was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 2020 season. Barrett signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League in January, but an injury in March forced him to retire.
Barrett signed with the New Orleans Saints after going undrafted in 2018 following a stellar four-year career at Ohio State. He was tabbed as a potential Heisman Trophy winner in 2014 before suffering a season-ending injury that led to Cardale Jones leading the Buckeyes to the College Football National Championship that year. Barrett went 38-6 in four years at Ohio State.
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Coincidentally, Barrett started ahead of Joe Burrow in 2016 and 2017. Burrow eventually transferred to LSU in 2018 and went on to lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff title in 2020 and the asw pick #1 overall out of Cincinnati Bengals that year.
Barrett bounced between the Saints, Seattle Seahawks and back to the Saints again before landing with the Steelers at the end of the 2019 season. He was cut before the 2020 season and signed to play in the Spring League later that year.
It’s no coincidence that Barrett joined the Lions staff, as he has ties to head coach Dan Campbell during their time together in New Orleans. Campbell was the Saints’ assistant head coach from 2016-2020, during which time Barrett was a player.
It’s unclear exactly what role Barrett will play in Detroit.
JT Barrett is back in the NFL. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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