McBrien initially attended college at West Virginia University. In 2000, he played in 10 games, including one start, for the Mountaineers. He completed 42 out of 99 passes for 755 yards, including three touchdowns and three interceptions. In the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh, he netted 257 yards and two touchdowns. McBrien replaced Brad Lewis for the final three quarters of the Notre Dame game and threw for 252 yards and a touchdown. In 2001, he transferred to the University of Maryland in his sophomore year, where he was required by NCAA rules to sit out for a season. In 2002, McBrien started in all 14 games for the Maryland Terrapins. In the season-opener against Akron, he made his first career rushing touchdown and scored again with an eight-yard toss to Derrick Fenner. Against Eastern Michigan, he managed a career-high 300 passing yards for three touchdowns, including a school second-longest touchdown pass to Steve Suter for 91 yards. At his former alma mater, West Virginia, McBrien led the Terps to a 48-17 win with a 45-yard play action pass to Jafar Williams. At Duke, he rushed for a touchdown and threw a 69-yard pass to Latrez Harrison for a touchdown. McBrien averaged 31.7 yards per completion at North Carolina including an 80-yard touchdown throw to Scooter Monroe. Against #14 N.C. State, he set up the game-winning Nick Novak field goal with a 36-yard completion to Steve Suter. At Clemson, McBrien tied two of his career highs with three touchdown passes and three interceptions. In the 2003 Peach Bowl against Tennessee, he was named the Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game, and ran seven times for 36 yards and two touchdowns. During the season, he placed fifth-best in school history in pass efficiency and passing yards. For the season, McBrien ranked second in the ACC and 12th in the NCAA in pass efficiency. In 2003, McBrien again led the Terrapins to a win over his former school, West Virginia, 34–7. Against Clemson, he threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions, including a season-long pass to Derrick Fenner for 69 yards and a score. In the North Carolina game, McBrien's career-high four touchdown passes tied for number-six the school single-game record. In what was Maryland's fourth-straight cliffhanger victory over a Philip Rivers-led N.C. State, McBrien guided the Terps to 16 points with 7:00 remaining on the clock. McBrien was also under center for #13 Maryland's shocking 20-13 loss to Northern Illinois to start the season. Maryland finished the regular season with a 9–3 record and secure a spot in the 2004 Gator Bowl to once again face West Virginia. McBrien led Maryland in his third victory over his former alma mater in a 41–7 romp, where he threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed for another touchdown. He set his career-high with 351 passing yards and was named the 2004 Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player. With 19 passing touchdowns in the 2003 season, McBrien earned the number-three spot in the school record book. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in criminology and criminal justice.
Statistics
Sources:
Professional career
In 2004, McBrien signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers, where he saw action in the pre-season as a back-up behind Brett Favre. Green Bay released McBrien in September 2004, only to re-sign and allocate him to the NFL Europe's Rhein Fire in January 2005, in order to gain experience. With the Fire, McBrien threw for 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and was subsequently released by the Packers. In 2006, McBrien was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He played with the Alouettes for two seasons.
Coaching career
After the end of his playing career, McBrien returned to the United States and founded the Scott McBrien Passing Academy in Rockville, Maryland. At the training camp, he is a quarterbacks coach for youth and high school players. There, he works alongside former Maryland teammates Steve Suter and Scooter Monroe.
