49ers coach who has played instrumental role in Brock Purdy's remarkable ascent receives head coach interest

Back in 2020, after a losing season, the San Francisco 49ers saw an assistant coach hired as the head coach of the New York Jets. Now, as the Jets look to find a replacement for Robert Saleh, they are again showing interest in a Niners assistant. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets requested a head […]

Nicholas McGee
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San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Griese watches the action from the sideline in the third quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium.
David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Back in 2020, after a losing season, the San Francisco 49ers saw an assistant coach hired as the head coach of the New York Jets.

Now, as the Jets look to find a replacement for Robert Saleh, they are again showing interest in a Niners assistant.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets requested a head coach interview with 49ers quarterback Brian Griese.

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Griese was hired out of the ESPN broadcast booth in 2022 and played an instrumental role in the 49ers taking Brock Purdy with the final pick in that year's draft and in his outstanding development since that decision.

John Lynch (h/t Niners Nation) said of the process of the 49ers picking Purdy: "I think two people deserve so much credit for Brock Purdy, and one of them is now in our pro department. He’s a guy by the name of Steve Slowik. His brother’s Bobby Slowik, the offensive coordinator down there in Houston. But Steve was the college scout that would go through Iowa State.

"The other guy I’d say was Brian Griese,” Lynch said. “Brian was incredibly impressed once we kind of gave [Brock] to him and said, ‘Hey, get on these Zooms, start talking to Brock.’ And Griese came back extremely convicted. And then it’s in Kyle’s hands, it’s in my hands, and we start watching.

"And we were so smart, we waited until the very last pick to draft him, and thank God he was there. He’s been tremendous for our organization, and you really could see it right away."

Griese has extensive playing experience having made 83 starts in his 11 seasons in the NFL, which included five with Kyle Shanahan's father Mike at the start of his career with the Denver Broncos. 

In 2023, Purdy explained the benefit Griese's experience has on the quarterback room.

Said Purdy, per NBC Sports Bay Area: "I always say, his experience, he’s been in our shoes, so he’s able to relate to a lot of things — what we’re seeing, how we’re feeling, situational football."

Still, despite his clear impact on the 49ers' recent success, it appears unlikely the Jets will hire a coach without experience of calling plays at the highest level. 

But the Jets obviously see some value in picking his brain and it would be no surprise to see Griese get some looks from teams searching for an offensive coordinator this offseason.

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