Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on after losing to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Provides New Details on Scary Offseason Car Accident 1
Kyle Shanahan is considered one of the leading head coaches in the NFL right now. Currently coaching the San Francisco 49ers, his offensive mind is widely appreciated by many. He is entering his 10th season leading the team.
Coming off a good 2025 season, the team was enjoying their offseason. But the head coach made the headlines in the offseason, after he got into a serious car accident, and has now described it in detail.
Kyle Shanahan takes blame for car crash despite Tesla autopilot
Shanahan suffered a severe car crash on July 14, 2026 on Alma Street near Hamilton Avenue in Palo Alto which left him with multiple injuries. It caused a concussion with lingering headaches and fatigue, a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken left hand, and a facial laceration above the right eye that required more than 40 stitches.
Nov 2, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on the sideline during the first half of a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn ImagesNov 2, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on the sideline during the first half of a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on the sideline during the first half of a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Shanahan recently provided new details on the car crash in his first training camp press conference. He admitted that his 2023 Tesla Model S was operating on Autopilot when the collision occurred. His car was going approximately 20 mph in a 25-mph zone, when the coach’s cellphone fell from his lap. He turned around to retrieve it and took off his eyes off the road. That was the moment when his car went oncoming traffic and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by a 21-year-old woman, who was not seriously injured.
He said, “Anytime you cause an accident that can be avoided, you feel pretty stupid, especially when you have a chance to hurt someone else. Who knows what happened when I turned around, whether [autopilot] malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off I don’t know yet.”
The 49ers head coach took full responsibility for the crash, accepting that he should have paid attention to the road. He said, “But regardless, it’s always your fault. Whether you’re on autopilot or not, you can’t take your eyes off the road. It’s a partnership, driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer.” It is not clear what happened to the Autopilot system that caused it to crash, and he added that he has used the autopilot for 9 years. He is already recovering well and planning his full return to the sideline.
Kyle Shanahan plans preseason return to coaching
Shanahan also revealed that he is on the way to recovery. The coach confirmed that he wants to coach the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on August 13. He revealed that he is already looking at plays with the rest of his coaching staff and watching film.
He said, “I’m doing real good. My body feels good. Just got to get this annoying cast off. My ribs feel good except when I sneeze, and my head feels so much better. Concussions do linger a little bit. The only things I really deal with now are just headaches and fatigue. That’s why I’m not always on the exact same routine, but pretty close.”
Kyle Shanahan will now move on from the car crash incident and focus on preparing for the next season.
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