San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is preparing for another preseason test after a frightening car crash interrupted his summer. The accident left the veteran coach with several injuries and a concussion, forcing him to scale back his work during training camp.
Now, with another preseason game approaching, Shanahan’s return has added an unexpected subplot to the 49ers’ preparations.
Kyle Shanahan’s Car Crash Left Him with a Long Road Back
Shanahan was reportedly driving his Tesla Model S in Palo Alto on July 14 when his phone slipped off his lap. He looked down to grab it, taking his eyes off the road for a couple of seconds while believing Autopilot was engaged, but the vehicle crossed the center divider and slammed head-on into an approaching SUV.
The crash happened around 6:12 p.m. near Alma Street and Hamilton Avenue. The 21-year-old woman driving the other vehicle escaped without injuries, while police found no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role. Neither driver received a citation.
An early state database entry mistakenly blamed the other driver because of a clerical error. Shanahan later made sure there was no confusion about what happened, taking responsibility and saying, “I hit her.” He also clarified that the police report did not actually place blame on the woman.
The impact left Shanahan with a concussion, a broken nose, three broken ribs, and a fractured left hand. He also required more than 40 stitches for facial injuries, while his close friend Chris Simms said Shanahan came close to losing his right eye.
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“It was scary. There’s no doubt about that. It was scary,” Simms said in July. “He was this close to maybe losing his right eye; the scar is so big right here. And so all that stuff was just crazy to see… He’s healing. His face looks a whole lot better. But this concussion, of course, being a part of that kind of accident, is lingering, and it’s giving him issues. And he’s certainly still dealing with that.”
The 49ers initially kept the accident private for 11 days before announcing it on July 25. Shanahan then worked with limitations as assistant head coach Chris Foerster handled more of the physical demands at practice.
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The 49ers eventually eased Shanahan back into a larger role. Shanahan gradually increased his workload and returned to the sideline for San Francisco’s preseason opener against Tennessee on August 13.
His next appearance is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, when the 49ers visit the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The game gives Shanahan another chance to settle back into his usual role while continuing his recovery.
The crash also raised questions about Tesla’s Autopilot system. Shanahan remains unsure whether he accidentally disengaged it while reaching for his phone or whether the system failed to keep the vehicle in its lane.
With Shanahan back on the sideline, the Chargers’ matchup will offer another checkpoint in his recovery. The 49ers, who were ranked 20th on PFN NFL Defense Impact Rankings last season, have plenty of football concerns to handle, but their head coach’s return is certainly one headline worth keeping an eye on.
