Steve Mariucci previews NFC Championship

(KSEE/KGPE) – Steve Mariucci is an analyst at NFL Network. Before he was a broadcaster, he was a head coach in the NFL. And from the mid-1990’s through the mid-2000’s, he coached in both San Francisco and in Detroit.

“Well, two different stories because the 49ers were expected to be here, right?” said Mariucci. “And we all knew they had a heck of a team, a great team in fact. I still think they’re gonna win it all. And then you have the Lions over there who haven’t won a playoff game in 31 years.”

For the first time since January of 1992.

Eleven years later is when Steve Mariucci was their head coach. He was there three years (2003-2005).

“I am so darn happy for that city, they are beside themselves,” said Mariucci. “They probably had a ticker tape parade already over on Woodward Avenue.”

As for the 49ers, the NFC Championship game is a familiar spot. They have reached it for the third year in a row.

They also reached it under Steve Mariucci in his first season as head coach: 1997.

“It’s kind of fun to see all the teams that I coached for have success all at the same time,” he said. “It’s really exciting.

“But I think we all know that the Lions are the Cinderella team, and the 49ers are the favorite.”

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