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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he was at fault for the car accident he was involved in on July 14, which led to numerous injuries that limited him in training camp.
Shanahan called reporters into his office Monday to clarify that he was the one who caused the accident. The California Highway Patrol database made a “clerical error” in attributing the crash to the woman involved in the two-car crash, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
“He took his eyes off the road briefly to find his phone dropped between the seats and when he looked up it had crossed the line and gotten into a van,” Wagoner wrote in X.
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida, on Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Shanahan committed a violation for holding and operating a cell phone while driving, but was not cited for it after the accident.
Reporters who spoke with Shanahan also mentioned him saying that he did not lose consciousness or have amnesia after the accident. He also noted that he was traveling 20 mph at the time of the accident.
ESPN’s initial report on the accident said the woman did not suffer any injuries, but Shanahan suffered broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken hand, in addition to suffering a severe concussion. In addition, he needed 40 stitches to close cuts on his face.
KYLE SHANAHAN ‘IS CLOSE’ TO LOSING HIS RIGHT EYE IN HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT, NFL ANALYST REVEALS
During a Monday taping of “PFT Live,” Chris Simms, a close friend of Shanahan, revealed that the 49ers coach nearly lost his right eye after seeing photos Shanahan’s wife sent him after the accident.
“When you first see it, it’s fresh and some of the cuts are still very open, I mean, it’s jarring,” Simms explained. “It’s jarring.
“He was this close to maybe losing his right eye.”
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks at a press conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, California, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Simms pointed to his forehead as he said, “The scar is really big here.” He also said Shanahan was emotional about the situation when they were able to connect.
“He got excited because he realized how close he was to being a complete, you know, total disaster,” Simms said. “Actually, it was a disaster anyway. But, when you’re part of that accident, like I said, he could have lost his right eye. It could have been a lot worse. You know, he’s very worried about the woman he was in the accident with and how she’s doing and how she’s handling that situation. So there’s a lot of things there. And I think it was a lot for him to process.”
General manager John Lynch said “Kyle will basically be like in protocol,” referring to his concussion. Simms said this is posing “some issues” for him to deal with during the healing process.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, reacts with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, center, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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While Shanahan serves his team on a limited basis, Chris Foerster, the 49ers assistant head coach, acts in his place.
The 49ers open the season against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 in the first game played in Australia.
