Brian Griese leaving ESPN to become 49ers' quarterbacks coach

It seemed as though Brian Griese was already out at ESPN when the network was rumored to be nearing a deal with Troy Aikman as its new Monday Night Football analyst, but now it looks like Griese is leaving the TV industry altogether.

Griese is leaving ESPN to become the 49ers' new quarterbacks coach, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Their former quarterbacks coach, Rich Scangarello, left last month to become the offensive coordinator at Kentucky.

A future in the booth for ESPN became murky for Griese when the Aikman news was leaked, though no contract has officially been agreed to for the current Fox lead analyst. Griese could have returned to calling college games for the network, or left for either Fox or Amazon's NFL crews.

Instead, he will make his first foray into coaching, and in doing so will reunite with Kyle Shanahan. During Griese's first stint with the Buccaneers from 2004-05, Shanahan served as an offensive quality control coach. Both left after the 2005 season; Shanahan to become the wide receivers coach for the Texans, and Griese to sign with the Bears.

Griese's playing career began with the Broncos, who were coached by Shanahan's father Mike. He played his first five seasons in Denver before departing for the Dolphins in 2003. After his two years in Tampa Bay, he went to Chicago for two more, then returned to the Buccaneers for his final season in 2008.