The San Francisco 49ers had the opportunity to do what was expected at the time: reveal that head coach Kyle Shanahan had been involved in a serious car accident. For whatever reason, they chose to keep the incident under wraps for 11 days before informing the public.
Several details have since been revealed. Yet, some still can’t get over the fact that the 49ers initially concealed a significant news story. Was it Shanahan’s idea or someone within the 49ers’ organization?
Kyle Shanahan Wanted to Come Clean Right Away
Somewhere along the way, a decision was made to keep Shanahan’s accident concealed. Only, that wasn’t the head coach’s idea.
According to ESPN’s Robert Klemko and Nick Wagoner, Shanahan was willing to provide the police report to reporters. Yet, the 49ers’ team of security vetoed the head coach, so no report was provided.
“At the time, Shanahan seemed open to the idea of providing the police report to reporters, but the team’s head of security, Jeremy Jones, who was also in the room, overruled the head coach,” Wagoner wrote.
“Jones referred reporters to California vehicle code law and said the team did not think it appropriate to share information that would identify the other driver. When ESPN asked the 49ers for a redacted version of the report that shielded her identity, the team declined, referring ESPN back to Palo Alto Police.”
Meanwhile, On SI’s Grant Cohn saw that section from ESPN and suggested that even though coach Shanahan “keeps trying to do the right thing,” the 49ers “keep messing up.
“Kyle Shanahan keeps trying to do the right thing and the 49ers keep messing up,” Cohn said.
Kyle Shanahan keeps trying to do the right thing and the 49ers keep messing up. pic.twitter.com/RqJGKEpNvN
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) July 30, 2026
Shanahan suffered several serious injuries in the car accident, including a concussion. He also had to get 40 stitches in his face and nearly lost his right eye.
In addition to the above, Shanahan broke a hand, fractured his nose, and suffered three broken ribs. There is no timetable for his return to full coaching duties.
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, who has been on staff since 2019, has taken over Shanahan’s workload at training camp. Yet, Shanahan has still been in attendance for short periods.
San Francisco’s first preseason game arrives on Aug. 15 against the Tennessee Titans. Whether Shanahan will be with the team, barking in calls from the sideline, remains to be seen. For now, he’s focused on making a full recovery.
