NFL · Live Wire
Kyle Shanahan plans to coach 49ers’ pre-season opener after crash injuries
San Francisco’s head coach says he is close to his usual routine and expects to be on the sideline against Tennessee on 13 August.
Kyle Shanahan intends to coach the San Francisco 49ers’ pre-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on 13 August as he continues his recovery from injuries suffered in a July car crash. Source Source
What happened
Shanahan addressed reporters in person on Saturday, 8 August, for the first time since the crash and said he was close to returning to his normal coaching routine after scaling back aspects of his work early in training camp. Source Source
The 49ers coach suffered a concussion, three broken ribs, a broken left hand and a broken nose in the collision on 14 July. Source Source
The crash happened in Palo Alto, California, after Shanahan reached for a dropped phone while driving a Tesla using autopilot, according to his account. Source
Shanahan accepted full responsibility for the collision, while saying the other driver was not injured. Source
He remains in a cast on his left hand but expects it to come off soon, and he has said discomfort in his ribs is now chiefly noticeable when he sneezes. Source Source
The remaining concussion effects have been occasional headaches and fatigue, which Shanahan has managed by adjusting his workload. Source Source
During his recovery, he has concentrated on film work, conversations with players and coaches, and key practice sessions rather than maintaining every element of his full daily schedule. Source Source
He has also cut back on the number of full-team meetings he leads in an effort not to worsen the fatigue. Source
Why it matters
Shanahan’s stated intention to work the sideline against Tennessee provides the 49ers with a clear immediate plan for their first pre-season game, rather than leaving his availability unresolved as training camp progresses. Source Source
His assessment of his condition has been encouraging, with Shanahan saying he feels approximately fully recovered for the core parts of his job. Source Source
That progress comes despite the breadth of the injuries sustained in the crash and the fact that he is still wearing a cast. Source Source
The 49ers are coming off a 2025 campaign in which they finished third in the NFC West with a 12-5 record and a 437-371 points differential. Source
The club’s regular-season opener is scheduled for 10 September against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, and Shanahan is expected to be available well before that game. Source
What’s next
San Francisco opens its pre-season against Tennessee on 13 August before travelling to face the Los Angeles Chargers on 21 August and the Las Vegas Raiders on 28 August. Source
After the opening game against the Rams in Melbourne, the 49ers are scheduled for three consecutive home games against Miami on 20 September, Arizona on 27 September and Denver on 4 October. Source
For now, Shanahan’s next public benchmark is whether he takes his intended place on the sideline for the Titans game while continuing his return to a regular coaching workload. Source Source
Notes
Shanahan has described himself as near his usual routine, but the recovery is not presented as entirely complete because he continues to manage occasional headaches and fatigue and has not yet had the cast removed from his left hand. Source Source
His plan to coach the Tennessee game is an intention stated on Saturday, rather than a report that the game has already taken place. Source Source
Key facts
5 data points- Remaining pre-season games
- At the Chargers on 21 August; at the Raiders on 28 August
- Source: HFC NFL data
Sources used in this piece
4 sources