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Don't look now, but J.T. Barrett is quickly rising up the coaching ranks.
Barrett, a former quarterback for Ohio State, had a great run in Columbus from 2014-2017. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 9,434 yards with 104 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Not only did he win the Kellen Moore Award in 2017, he was named the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year three times.
After leaving Ohio State in 2018, Barrett started his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints. He had multiple stints with the franchise despite never appearing in a game.
In 2022, Barrett officially made the transition from player to coach, joining the Detroit Lions' staff as an offensive assistant. He was then promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023.
On Friday night, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Barrett is taking the next step in his coaching career. He's reportedly leaving the Lions to become the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears. It's not a huge surprise that he was on their radar. After all, he worked with Ben Johnson in Detroit for multiple years.
"A big get for Ben Johnson and his new staff, as Barrett - the former Ohio State star - was very well liked inside the Detroit building," Schultz said.
If all goes well in Chicago, there's a good chance Barrett can become an offensive coordinator somewhere else in the NFL. But first, he'll have to prove he can develop Caleb Williams as a passer.
Williams has not yet offered his thoughts on this hire. He did, however, make it clear that he's pumped about Johnson taking over the Bears.
"[It] brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason. It brings a bunch of different things to the offseason," Williams said. "And I'm really excited about obviously the Bears and being able to make this happen, and keeping Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time."
Johnson is hoping to bring the Bears back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season.
More must-reads:
- Colts' QB decision makes no sense, sets stage for wasted season
- New report sheds light on how Cowboys view Micah Parsons situation
- The '2024 NFL rushing TD leaders' quiz
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Green Bay Packers: Slo-Mo Video of Malik Willis’ TD Bomb to Matthew Golden Unleashes Wild Reactions
Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden just keeps on turning heads in the offseason. On Monday, Golden grabbed attention again after making a sensational grab for a touchdown off a pass from quarterback Malik Willis. Matched up against defensive back Keisean Nixon, the former Texas Longhorns star wideout secured a deep throw from Willis and took the ball to the house for a 46-yard touchdown. Nixon couldn’t help but joke about Golden while praising the first-year downfield weapon. “He sometimes acts like he’s a vet but I try to remind him that he’s a rookie,” Nixon said (h/t Mike Spofford of the Packers’ official website). “Other than that, M.G., helluva player. You can tell why he went first round. Strong at the catch point, strong hands, strong upper body. I think he’ll have a really good year.” Green Bay Packers fans react to Golden’s touchdown score in practice The Packers shared a slo-mo video of that connection between Willias and Golden, leaving fans with all sorts of excited reactions to it. “malik is the guy ️ no one wants to admit it,” said a fan on X. Another one said: “Malik for starting QB” From a commenter: “IVE SEEN ENOUGH MALIK WILLIS 4X MVP” “Finally we might have a 1000+ yard receiver,” a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: “@eamaddennfl He ran 4.2 how tf is he a 91 speed on madden boost his speed.” Said another: “Hey 2 throwing it to 22 might be the answer.” Willis and Golden could have more magic in store for the Packers, as there’s a chance they could see action this coming Saturday’s NFL preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks at home.
Yankees Hit With Harsh Bullpen Reality
The New York Yankees are keeping their playoff hopes alive, but what happens when they get into the dance is what counts. And right now, the expectations are not very high. The Yankees once stood tall in the MLB, holding a seven-game lead in the American League East and being the clear favorites to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for the World Series title. Since then, they've fallen to the verge of nonexistence in the postseason. They currently sit behind both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox, with little hope of climbing back into the leader's circle before the end of the regular season. A lot of this has to do with their pitching. Trying to find some sort of rotation that works, New York has tested the waters with just about everyone. But before the postseason, they have few answers. So little in fact, that they're ranked one of the worst playoff team rotations in the MLB. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently released his rankings for the MLB playoff rotations, and the Yankees sit 13th of 17 teams on the list. In his listing, he names Max Fried as the team's ace, with Carlos Rodon as another lock and Will Warren and Cam Schlitter as their Game 4 candidates in a series. "Fried had a 1.92 ERA through his first 17 starts and looked like one of the AL Cy Young front-runners, but the wheels have fallen off over the past two months. In his last seven starts, he has a 6.00 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, and he has completed six innings just twice during that span," Reuter writes. "Can he right the ship in time to pitch like the ace the Yankees were expecting when he inked an eight-year, $218 million deal?" The Yankees don't have answers seemingly anywhere. Since Fried and Luke Weaver have fallen off, the team's most consistent options have let them down. They have no closer with Devin Williams being more of a problem than a solution this season, and Luis Gil may be their only hope as they close out the regular season. A turnaround is needed, because right now, the Kansas City Royals (14), New York Mets (15), Cleveland Guardians (16), and St. Louis Cardinals (17) are the only bullpens believed to be worse heading into the playoffs. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Don't Let Yankees Fallen Closer Fool You Yankees Infielder Joins Exclusive MLB Club Yankees Injured Veteran Returns for Revenge Game Yankees Sweep Cardinals With Ninth-Inning Rally Yankees Controversial Shortstop Out for First Time in 46 Games
Packers' blockbuster trade pitch adds Micah Parsons for huge price
Speculation linking Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers continues to gain momentum as the star’s holdout amid stalled contract negotiations seems as far apart as ever. Parsons, two weeks ago, publicly requested a trade and continues to hold-in during Cowboys training camp, while there is a belief that Green Bay is attempting to pull off a blockbuster trade. Potential Packers-Micah Parsons Blockbuster Trade Package Parsons, 26, has posted 52.5 sacks through his first four seasons and is one of the most dominant players at his position. He is the kind of difference-maker who could cement Green Bay as a legitimate Super Bowl contender for years to come. But prying Parsons away from the Cowboys wouldn’t come cheap. "You’d want to hope to trade no more than three good young players for one elite player," an NFL executive and former general manager said to me recently of what a Parsons trade package might look like. Given that strategy, it isn’t difficult to envision Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst offering a package of players and picks that looks something like: Packers Trade: 2026 first-round NFL Draft choice, 2027 first-round draft choice, WR Romeo Doubs, EDGE Lukas Van Ness Cowboys Trade: Micah Parsons Trading two first-round picks is likely the starting point for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in any Parsons negotiations. For the Packers, trading Van Ness would be offering a change of scenery for a former first-round draft choice who has yet to live up to expectations, and upgrading the position with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player. Meanwhile, shipping Doubs to Dallas clears a logjam at wide receiver, while helping the Cowboys round out a balanced receiving corps that would include CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Doubs as perhaps the most prolific collection of talent Dak Prescott has had in his career. Whether Parsons’ trade request is anything more than posturing remains to be seen, but if the Cowboys open up trade talks, this package could be the kind of trade that nets Green Bay a difference-maker.
Bryce Harper is first player to accomplish this in 2025 as Phillies remain hot
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper delivered a vintage performance at the plate on Monday night against the Seattle Mariners. His two-homer game carried the Phillies to a 12-7 win over Seattle, giving them back-to-back games with 11 or more runs. Both of Harper's home runs traveled at least 440 feet, making him the first player this season with multiple homers of that distance in the same game. His first homer came in the sixth inning off an 83-mph sweeper from Mariners pitcher Casey Legumina to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead. Harper topped that with a 448-foot shot in the seventh, hitting an 86-mph changeup for his second homer of the game to extend Philadelphia's lead to 11-4. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Harper is the first Phillies player with multiple home runs of 440 feet or more in a game under Statcast (since 2015). It is the second time Harper has accomplished the feat, joining Yordan Alvarez, Willson Contreras, Joey Gallo and Jorge Soler as the only five players to do so. It was a complete team effort for the Phillies, who recorded 21 hits, 12 runs and four home runs one day after plating 11 against the Washington Nationals. Starting pitcher Ranger Suarez was equally impressive with a career-high 10 strikeouts across 6.2 innings of two-run ball. While Harper only had four home runs so far this month, Monday was a reminder of how lethal he can still be at the plate with three hits in six at-bats, two home runs, three RBI and two runs. He missed 22 games earlier this season due to inflammation in his right wrist, but seems to be returning to form during the stretch run. The 11 runs against the Nationals, who are in last place in the NL East standings, was not exactly eye-opening, but putting up 12 against a Mariners team that is battling with the Houston Astros for first-place in the AL West is certainly encouraging. Philadelphia (72-53) currently holds a 5.5 game lead on the New York Mets for the NL East lead. With three wins in its last four games, the Phillies are taking care of business on both sides of the plate and giving themselves a shot at another division crown.
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