Former Ohio State star J.T. Barrett has a career on the sidelines even though he didn’t succeed as a quarterback in the NFL. Barrett has been added to the coaching staff of the Detroit Lions as an offensive assistant, the team announced on Saturday.
After the NFL implemented a new policy requiring teams to hire a minority coach as an offensive coordinator in March, Barrett was hired. The new regulation was proposed to enhance the NFL’s recruiting processes for diversity and is a result of the establishment of a new diversity advisory council.
Despite having a fantastic collegiate career, Barrett was not selected in the 2018 draft. Barrett broke nearly every significant school and Big Ten QB record in his four years as the starting quarterback at Ohio State, with 9,434 passing yards, 3,263 running yards, and 147 total touchdowns. He became an undrafted free agent and joined the New Orleans Saints, where he played his first year on the practice squad. Barrett had some time with the Seahawks, Steelers, and again with the Saints after being released the following summer, but he never advanced past being on the practice squad. Barret signed a contract with the Edmonton Elks earlier this season, but the deal fell through because of an injury.
