Brian Griese is out as the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers, removing the coach who was credited for pushing to draft Brock Purdy in 2022.

Purdy's rise from the "Mr. Irrelevant" of the 2022 NFL draft class to one of the top quarterbacks in the league has been shocking, and Griese, a former quarterback in the NFL himself, played a big role in helping him shock the world. However, it was announced in February that Griese wasn't returning as the team's quarterbacks coach.

It now makes sense why Brian Griese passed on a head coaching interview with the Jets. The 49ers announced Tuesday their coaching staff for the 2025 season and Griese was surprisingly absent from the list, as Mick Lombardi will take over his role as the quarterbacks coach.

The coach’s profile rose in these last three years, especially for elevating Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant status to franchise quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach and quarterback Brock Purdy's mentor, Brian Griese, decided to end his coaching career after three seasons.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the announcement was new quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi. He’s replacing Brian Griese, who was initially hired in that position for the 49ers before the 2022 season. It’s unclear whether Griese was let go, walked away, or took a job elsewhere.

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the 2025 NFL season, they have made a surprising move by quietly parting ways with a key piece of Brock Purdy’s offensive unit.

Now, Purdy must adjust to Lombardi, who joined the team last year as a senior offensive assistant. Brian Griese graded Brock Purdy as the top QB in the 2022 draft. Purdy, pick No. 262, was the ...