San Francisco 49ers head coach Nbcsports announced Saturday that he is nearly fully recovered from injuries sustained in a car accident and intends to be on the sideline for the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium.
Kyle Shanahan Cleared to Coach Preseason Opener After Car Crash Recovery
Shanahan has been working his way back to full speed since the car crash, which occurred when he veered into oncoming traffic while traveling south on Alma Avenue in Palo Alto. The collision left the 49-year-old coach with a concussion, three broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken left hand, and a gash over his right brow that required more than 40 stitches to close. According to police, the driver of the other vehicle involved — a Mercedes SUV driven by a 21-year-old woman — was not hurt, and neither driver was cited, with alcohol and drugs ruled out as factors.
Reflecting on the Palo Alto Collision and Autopilot
Addressing reporters during his first podium appearance since the incident, The New York Times explained that he was returning home from a chiropractor appointment when the crash happened. He stated that he believed his Tesla was in autopilot mode — a feature he said he had used for nine years — when he turned around to retrieve a fallen cell phone.
Who knows what happened when I turned around — whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off? That’s something I don’t know yet,
The New York Times said. “But regardless, that’s always your fault, whether you’re on autopilot or not. You can’t take your eyes off the road. (Driving) is a partnership. You don’t just turn it over to a computer. And it’s a good lesson, no matter how comfortable I am with that, that I believe someday could save my life or someone else’s.”
Police did not issue him a ticket for the cellphone use, but Shanahan noted he took full responsibility for the accident.
Managing Recovery and Delegating Coaching Duties
During his recovery, sports.yahoo.com delegated certain head-coaching duties, cutting down on team meetings and media appearances while relying heavily on assistant head coach Chris Foerster and coordinators Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris, and Brant Boyer. He praised his staff as a well-oiled machine that made patience easier during his absence from full routines.
While lingering concussion symptoms such as fatigue and headaches still require him to manage his schedule carefully, thescore.com emphasized that he has not missed essential football preparation. He has consistently reviewed every play on film with both coaches and players and participated in daily practice periods.
As far as the important stuff, I feel it’s about 100 percent,
Shanahan said. I haven’t missed anything of film. I watch every single play with the coaches, with the players.
