Brian Griese

Veteran backup who started 13 games for the Bears in 2006 and 2007.

Brian Griese (born 1975) is a former NFL quarterback and coach who signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Bears in March 2006 and started 13 games for the team across 2006 and 2007. The son of Hall of Famer Bob Griese, he won a national title at Michigan and a Super Bowl ring as a Denver rookie.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 March 1975
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, U.S.
Draft year: 1998
Draft pick: 91
High school: Christopher Columbus (Miami)
College: Michigan (1993–1997)

Facts from the source article.

Background

Griese outplayed Rex Grossman in the 2006 preseason, but Lovie Smith kept him as the second-stringer, limiting him to late snaps in blowouts. With home-field advantage secured in Week 15 he completed six of nine passes against Detroit to set up Robbie Gould's winning kicks, and he relieved a struggling Grossman for the second half of the finale against Green Bay, going 5 of 15 with a touchdown and two interceptions. Smith stayed with Grossman through the playoffs and the Super Bowl XLI loss.

After Grossman struggled in the first three games of the 2007 season, Smith turned to Griese to lead the team. In his first outing as a Bears starter he threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in a loss to the Detroit Lions, and the next week he led a game-winning drive against the Philadelphia Eagles in which he called the plays himself because of a headset failure. Griese lost the starting job to Grossman after an injury against the Oakland Raiders in Week 10, replaced Grossman again later in the season after Grossman's knee injury against Washington, and then, with the Bears out of the playoffs, Kyle Orton started the last three games.

Earlier, Michigan had not offered him a scholarship, so he walked on to the football team. Alongside Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson he led the Wolverines to an undefeated 1997 season and a share of the national championship, and he was named MVP of the 1998 Rose Bowl after passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns against Washington State. He then succeeded John Elway in Denver and made the 2001 Pro Bowl. He later worked as a Monday Night Football analyst and as quarterbacks coach of the San Francisco 49ers.