Former Ohio State star J.T. Barrett mentioned for major NFL head coaching job just before Christmas

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a major opening on their coaching staff with co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline now the head coach at South Florida. Hartline is remaining with the Buckeyes through the College Football Playoff, and then Ohio State will bring in a replacement. 

One potential name to be a replacement possibility is former Buckeyes QB J.T. Barrett, who is now the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears under head coach Ben Johnson. Barrett never had much of a pro career playing, but it was always easy to see he was going to make a good coach. Now, the former Buckeye is being mentioned for an NFL head coaching gig. 

J.T. Barrett has been connected to the New York Giants job 

The New York Giants moved off of head coach Brian Daboll earlier in the season and interim coach Mike Kafka has been the man since. However, the Giants will soon land a new head coach once the season ends, and ESPN’s Louis Riddick believes that Barrett could make sense for the job. 

“You know what, here’s a name to keep an eye on… who’s the assistant head coach of Chicago right now that Ben Johnson brought with him from Detroit?” Riddick said on Wednesday morning’s edition of ‘Get Up.’ “Antwaan Randle El… and remember the name J.T. Barrett, another guy who’s the quarterback coach in Chicago.”

Chicago’s jump to being in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the first year with Johnson as their head coach has caught plenty of attention. Johnson brought Barrett with him from Detroit and the former Buckeye has been instrumental in coaching up Chicago QB Caleb Williams this season. 

“We said he would be one of the most critical people on the entire staff, because he’s the bridge between Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams,” Riddick said. “Those are names you’ve got to start thinking about, because you’re going to be picking from that tree. Ben Johnson, everything he touches is going to turn to gold right now.”