Chicago Bears hiring former Ohio State QB JT Barrett as quarterbacks coach

The Chicago Bears continue to raid the Detroit Lions coaching staff. First, they plucked their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Then, on Friday night, they snapped up Detroit wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El. And shortly after that announcement, the Bears decided to pluck former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett to join their coaching staff. He served as the quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions the past two years. The news was relayed on Friday evening by Brad Biggs.

JT Barrett had a prolific playing career with Ohio State

While Barrett was on campus, Ohio State went to five straight New Year’s Six Bowls — winning the program’s latest national championship in 2014. He was the starter for the entire season before suffering an injury and seeing Cardale Jones finish off the run, beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semifinals and the Oregon Ducks in the CFP championship.

There was another College Football Playoff appearance for Barrett as well, losing to the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 edition.

During his final season in Columbus, Barrett had the best of his career — eclipsing 3,000 rushing yards and nearly rushing for 800 yards. The once On3 Industry four-star quarterback finished the season with 47 touchdowns, with 35 coming through the air and 12 on the ground. His final two games came with a Big Ten championship, something every great Ohio State player must have attached to their name.

Originally, Barrett began his career by taking a redshirt in 2013 but ended up playing for the Buckeyes in his remaining four years of eligibility. He currently holds the record for the most passing yards thrown in Ohio State history, having 9,434, and has the touchdown record as well, throwing 104. Nobody is even close to Barrett on both of those.

After a phenomenal career at Ohio State, Barrett tried his hand at the next level by entering the 2018 NFL Draft. While he wasn’t selected, the former Buckeyes star was brought in by the New Orleans Saints afterwards, where he spent the better part of two seasons backing up the legendary Drew Brees.

After spending some time with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers, Barrett’s time in the league came to an end when he was waived prior to the 2020 NFL season. Then, the former Ohio State star was signed by the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League for their 2022 season, where he’d spend a couple months before suffering a season-ending injury.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Steve Samra also contributed to this article.