New Orleans Saints To Interview Top 49ers Assistants For Offensive Coaching Position, Per Reports

Saints lining up interviews with two of the NFL's top assistants in their search for a new offensive coordinator.

The New Orleans Saints have added two new names to their offensive coaching search. Nick Underhill of neworleans.football reports on Tuesday that the Saints are interviewing San Francisco 49ers assistants Klint Kubiak and Brian Griese.

New Orleans let go of longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael last week. The contracts of WR coach Kodi Burns and senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell were also terminated, while RB coach Joel Thomas left to accept the same position with the New York Giants. 

Since then, the Saints have interviewed Cincinnati Bengals quarterback coach Dan Pitcher, Los Angeles Rams QB coach Zac Robinson, and Houston Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson. New Orleans had also requested an interview with former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who accepted a job with the Chicago Bears on Monday. 

Per Luke Johnson of Nola.com, the Saints have also interviewed their QB coach Ronald Curry for a potential in-house promotion. New Orleans ranked ninth in points scored and 14th in total yardage this season behind Derek Carr in his first year as starter with the team. 

Jan 8, 2023; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks with quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY

Kubiak, 36, is the son of longtime NFL quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak. He's in his first season with San Francisco, serving as the passing game coordinator under head coach Kyle Shanahan. He was a collegiate quarterback with Colorado State before he started his coaching career. 

Prior to joining the 49ers, Kubiak was the passing game coordinator and QB coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 after two years as the QB coach there.

From 2016 to 2018, Kubiak was an offensive assistant for the Broncos after beginning his NFL coaching career as a quality control coach for the Vikings in 2013. His first coaching job was as a graduate assistant with Texas A&M from 2010 to 2012.

Sep 8, 2002; Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese (14) throws the ball against the St. Louis Rams at Mile High Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK

Griese, 48, is in his second season as the QB coach of the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan and Klint Kubiak. Son of Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese, Brian was an NFL quarterback for 11 seasons. The first five of which with the Denver Broncos as a third-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft out of Michigan. 

Griese was the starting quarterback for the National Champion Michigan Wolverines in 1997-98. He succeeded John Elway as the Broncos starter in 1999 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2000. Head coach of the Broncos during that time was Mike Shanahan, Kyle's father, while the offensive coordinator was Gary Kubiak. 

Upon his retirement from the NFL, Griese was an analyst for ESPN. From 2020 to 2022, he was part of ESPN's Monday Night Football announcing crew.

The 12-5 49ers will play in the NFC Championship for the second straight season, hosting the Detroit Lions this Sunday. San Francisco ranked second in total offense in 2023, finishing fourth in passing production and third in rushing yardage. Kubiak and Griese helped oversee the development of QB Brock Purdy, a seventh-round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft.