This weekend, audio recordings from police have shed some light on a recent car accident involving Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
According to CBS Sports, Shanahan was involved in a crash while getting into his SUV near his home in Palo Alto, California, around 6 p.m. on July 14. He sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including a concussion, 40 stitches to his face, a broken nose and hand, and three broken ribs.
The coach, who is in his tenth season with the 49ers, has since been treated and released from the hospital, trying to engage in team activities as much as he can.
As per the police audio, the accident occurred between his Tesla and another SUV, a Mercedes. Officers on the scene were informed about a driver bleeding from the head.
Lt. Nicholas Martin from the Palo Alto Police Department later stated that neither driver showed signs of impairment.
The police also mentioned that they would not release any information regarding the cause of the accident or who might be responsible.
Niners general manager John Lynch noted that Shanahan will have limitations during training camp this summer due to his injuries. “Kyle will follow the protocols,” Lynch said. He emphasized that their medical team is closely monitoring Shanahan’s recovery and will advise on his return to coaching.
In the meantime, assistant head coach Chris Forster will take over Shanahan’s responsibilities until he recovers.
The 49ers are set to face the Rams for their first game on September 10th in Melbourne, Australia.
Since Shanahan joined the 49ers in 2017, he has established himself as one of the league’s top coaches with an 82-67 record during the regular season and 9-5 in the playoffs. The team has appeared in two Super Bowls recently, finishing last season with a 12-5 record before being eliminated in the regional round by the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
