San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted on Monday, July 28, 2026, that he caused a car crash on July 14, 2026, after briefly taking his eyes off the road to find his phone, which had fallen between the seats. The incident resulted in multiple injuries that have since limited Shanahan's activity at training camp.

Shanahan called beat reporters into his office to clarify that he was at fault for the accident. Initially, the California Highway Patrol database had a "clerical error" that attributed the crash to the woman involved in the two-car collision, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Wagoner detailed on X that Shanahan "took eyes off the road briefly to find his phone which fell between seats and when he looked up he had gone over the line and into an SUV."

Reporters who spoke with Shanahan noted that he did not lose consciousness or experience amnesia following the crash. However, the injuries were severe enough that Chris Simms, a close friend of Shanahan and commentator on "PFT Live," revealed that Shanahan nearly lost his right eye after viewing pictures sent by Shanahan’s wife post-accident. Simms emphasized, "He was this close to maybe losing his right eye."

San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch commented on Shanahan’s condition, stating, "Kyle basically is going to be like in the protocol," referring to concussion protocols. Lynch also mentioned that Shanahan was emotional when they connected after the accident.

The crash and Shanahan's subsequent admission have drawn attention as the 49ers prepare for the upcoming NFL season, with Shanahan's health and readiness being closely monitored.

Sources