SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed he was involved in a car crash on July 14 while reaching for his cell phone.
Shanahan's vehicle collided with a car driven by a 21-year-old woman in Palo Alto. He sustained multiple injuries, including a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, and a broken left hand, requiring stitches for a cut above his right eye. The woman suffered minor injuries but did not need hospitalization.
Authorities reported no charges filed in relation to the incident. Shanahan briefly hospitalized following the crash has not been able to coach during the start of training camp, with Assistant Coach Chris Foerster leading practices in his absence.
On Tuesday, Shanahan stated, “I was going 20 miles an hour. I dropped my phone, and it was stuck in my seats. I took my eyes off the road for two seconds,” indicating his focus on retrieving the phone led to the crash.
Shanahan has attended a portion of the first two practices but experiences discomfort with loud noises. He anticipates a full recovery and is undergoing protocols similar to those used for players after a concussion.
Entering his 10th season with the 49ers, Shanahan holds a 91-72 record in regular-season and playoff games, ranking third in franchise history for wins. He has guided the team to two Super Bowl appearances and multiple NFC Championship games in recent seasons.