ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Brian Griese is leaving the network to be the San Francisco 49ers' quarterbacks coach.
Former Monday Night Football analyst Brian Griese is leaving ESPN to become the Quarterbacks Coach for the 49ers, sources tell @SethWickersham and me. Griese and Kyle Shanahan have known each other for years; Griese played QB in Tampa when Shanahan was on the Bucs coaching staff.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2022
Griese, a former quarterback, was a third-round selection out of Michigan by the Denver Broncos, starting his NFL career within head coach Mike Shanahan's offense. Mike Shanahan is the father of current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the two offenses share several similarities.
Griese completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 19,440 yards with 119 touchdowns and 99 interceptions through his 11 NFL seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 2000. The quarterback also played for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Chicago Bears. He retired after the Buccaneers released him in 2009, his second stint with the team.
ESPN hired Griese shortly after his retirement. He served as a college football analyst through 2020 before heading to the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football.
Griese, 46, replaces Rich Scangarello, who left the 49ers to be the offensive coordinator for the University of Kentucky. He will lead the continued development of last year's No. 3 overall pick, quarterback Trey Lance, who is widely expected to be the starter in 2022.
San Francisco is expected to officially announce all of its coaching hires next week.