These plays have constantly had eyes on the Lions and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson knows that, that’s why he took the time to shed some light on some of the assistant coaches who have been helping put together some of the special plays the Lions have been running.
The credit went to assistant receivers coach and former Jets head coach Rez Ryan’s son Seth Ryan, assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver, and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett.
“They’ve been in charge of our specials for not just this year, but for the last few years, and there’s a reason why we have probably a little higher success rate for those special plays, and they’re a big reason why”: Johnson said on Friday.” They have a ton of creativity, they bring a lot of ideas to the table, so I really wanted to start off here today by giving them a shoutout. They’ve been doing a great job here for the last three years, and they’re certainly deserving of more responsibility, not only here, but maybe elsewhere as well, wherever that opportunity unfolds.”
Barrett was the quarterback for Ohio State from 2013 to 2017 and he was a big part of the 2014 National Championship team before he broke his ankle against Michigan. He was even in the Heisman conversation that year. Unfortunately, that injury set him back a bit and he wound up never really reaching the heights it looked like he would at Ohio State.
Barrett went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft but wound up on the Saints with Dan Campbell who was the team’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach at the time. After Barrett finished playing in 2022, he joined the Lions staff as an offensive assistant. In 2023 he was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach and now he’s helping out with specials on a team that could win a Super Bowl this year.
Johnson also said that the Lions are focused on growing roles for Barrett by having him sit in with other coaches on the team.
“J.T. spending some time with (Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach) Scottie Montgomery and what the backs are being taught in protection so that when he has his own quarterback room, that transition is seamless? So yeah, there’s a lot of that that does go on, not maybe during the year, but in the offseason, that professional development is a huge part of what we do.”
Ben Johnson could wind up taking a head coaching job somewhere this year and you have to wonder if he sees an offensive coordinator position in Barrett’s future on his staff. Ryan and Oliver as well as Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley could also see themselves in that spot.
If not that soon for Barrett, you can’t help but think it’s around the corner for the former Buckeye who’s been making a name for himself. Perhaps the Lions could look to retain him in an elevated role on their staff. Keep an eye on this kid. The Dan Campbell coaching tree is growing.