Former Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett promoted to Detroit Lions' assistant quarterbacks coach

Colin Gay, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
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J.T. Barrett continues his move up the coaching ranks.

The former Ohio State quarterback was promoted assistant quarterbacks coach of the Detroit Lions after spending one season on head coach Dan Campbell's staff as an offensive assistant.

Barrett will help lead a Lions passing game that recorded 4,444 passing yards last season with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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Barrett's path to coaching was something former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer saw from the quarterback from his days with the Buckeyes.

"I told him that from one of the first days I started coaching him, that he needed to be a coach," Meyer said. "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."

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) sings Carmen Ohio between Brutus Buckeye and alumni Eli Apple during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016. Ohio State won 77-10.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) sings Carmen Ohio between Brutus Buckeye and alumni Eli Apple during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 3, 2016. Ohio State won 77-10.

J.T. Barrett had a decorated Ohio State career

Barrett shined in his four seasons with the Buckeyes.

The three-time captain and All-Big Ten quarterback threw for 9,434 passing yards, 104 touchdowns — both records for Ohio State football — and 30 interceptions, sharing the 2018 Chicago Tribune Silver Football award that's given to the top player in the Big Ten with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

Barrett's 104 passing touchdowns in four seasons is also a Big Ten career record.

Barrett also has 260 more pass attempts than any Ohio State quarterback in history along with 194 more completions.

The transition to the NFL proved to be tough for Barrett as a player, re-signing to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad 11 times before spending most of 2019 and 2020 on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad.

Barrett signed with the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League before tearing his Achilles tendon in March. The team then placed him on the retired list.

Ohio State football schedule 2023

Here's what Ohio State's 2023 football schedule looks like.

  • Sept. 2: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Sept. 9: Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Sept. 16: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Sept. 23: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Oct. 7: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Oct. 14: Ohio State vs. Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Oct. 21: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Oct. 28: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Nov. 4: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

  • Nov. 11: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Nov. 18: Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Nov. 25: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: J.T. Barrett promoted to Detroit Lions' assistant quarterbacks coach