After a legendary college football career, former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett is taking on a new challenge, accepting an offensive assistant job with the Detroit Lions to begin his career as a coach.
While the role will be Barrett’s first coaching role since ending his playing career, many expected the move to happen eventually. That includes Urban Meyer, Barrett’s former head coach, who claims he knew Barrett would be a great coach as soon as he began coaching him.
“I told him that from one of the first days I started coaching him, that he needed to be a coach,” Meyer told the Columbus Dispatch. “He’s got all the qualities you look for. He’s a competitor. He has great knowledge of the game and great football acumen. And his leadership skills are as good as anyone I’ve ever been around.”
Barrett’s shift to coaching comes after he was never quite able to catch on in the NFL. Barrett spent extensive time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad as head coach Sean Payton cut and re-signed him 11 times before finally parting ways.
“Sean Payton told me several times he wanted to find a way to keep him in the organization,” Meyer said. “He thought really highly of him. I imagine that’s where Dan Campbell got him.”
Following his time with the Saints, Barrett served as a practice squad player for both the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers before finishing his playing career with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League.
During his time playing for Meyer at Ohio State, Barrett was a four-year starter and led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten titles, two College Football Playoff appearances, and a perfect 4-0 record against the rival Michigan Wolverines.
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