With the NFL offseason coming to an end and training camp getting underway, all teams can hope for is their players to stay healthy before the season begins. However, the same can be said for coaches, who usually have much less risk-averse offseasons. They are not constantly training like players, and no one expects a coach to get injured during the offseason.
However, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is the exception, as he got into a serious car accident and suffered significant injuries that could carry into the regular season. The injuries suffered by Shanahan include a severe concussion, a broken nose, a broken hand, three broken ribs, and a laceration on his face that required 40 stitches. While the injuries will heal and aren’t life-threatening, one doctor is worried about the concussion and how it may impact his ability to coach this season.
Kyle Shanahan’s Concussion Could Force Him to Miss Time
Concussions are nothing new to the NFL, but since Shanahan’s concussion has been described as “severe,” it raises alarms.
SI.com spoke to a doctor who stated that “a severe concussion means that Shanahan most likely was unconscious for a period of time after the accident…”
”If 100 patients have severe concussions, 10 percent of them would make full recoveries in a week, and another 10 percent wouldn’t make full recoveries in a year. That’s how wide the range of time is for Shanahan’s recovery. He might be back in a few weeks, or he might have to miss the entire season.”
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There is no clear recovery timetable for Shanahan, as doctors have said they won’t clear him to return to coaching as long his concussion symptoms persist. That is certainly a cause for concern with training camp starting David Chao, Pro Football Doc on X, added, “’Severe concussion’ is what has me worried. Those words aren’t typically used in head injury.”
“Severe concussion” is what has me worried
Those words aren’t typically used in head injury
The other injuries will heal
Best wishes for a speedy recovery 🙏 https://t.co/UHPA6hkE7x— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) July 25, 2026
Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the NFL, as he seemingly has the 49ers in contention every season.
His absence would be significant as the 49ers would also be losing their offensive playcaller. As training camp begins for the 49ers on Sunday, Shanahan will be limited in what he can do. Now, the team hopes he will be 100% come Week 1 in September.
