SUMMARY
- Kyle Shanahan suffered a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand and a severe concussion after colliding with an SUV near his Northern California home on July 14.
- Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, along with coordinators Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brant Boyer, will handle head coaching duties while Shanahan recovers on a limited basis.
- Palo Alto police confirmed neither driver was cited and that drugs and alcohol were not involved in the crash.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan opened training camp Sunday in a limited role after suffering significant injuries in a car accident earlier this month.
The crash occurred July 14 when Shanahan collided with an SUV near his home. He was taken by paramedics to a local hospital and released later that day.
Palo Alto Lt. Nicholas Martinez confirmed the other driver was not injured and that drugs and alcohol were not a factor, adding, “Consistent with our standard release of information procedures in such cases, we do not release information regarding the cause of the collision, or which party may have been at fault.”
No citations were issued to either driver. The 49ers confirmed the accident in a statement Saturday, as the team officially reported to camp.
Shanahan had informed his assistant coaches of the crash on Tuesday, with players learning the news more gradually in the days that followed.
General manager John Lynch addressed reporters Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation further.
The injury adds to an already eventful offseason for San Francisco, which had also dealt with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk publicly expressing a desire to leave the franchise.
Shanahan is entering his 10th season, tying Bill Walsh for the longest tenure among 49ers head coaches.
Under his leadership, San Francisco has reached the Super Bowl twice, following the 2019 and 2023 seasons, and made two additional NFC Championship Game appearances after the 2021 and 2022 seasons making his health a significant storyline as camp begins.
In Shanahan’s absence, assistant head coach Chris Foerster is overseeing camp operations alongside coordinators Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brant Boyer.
Foerster, 64, is in his second stint with the 49ers, having rejoined the staff in 2019 as a game planning assistant before being promoted to offensive line coach, adding run game coordinator duties in 2022, and being elevated to assistant head coach three seasons later.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of crash | July 14, 2026 |
| Injuries | Broken nose, 3 broken ribs, broken hand, 40+ stitches, severe concussion |
| Other driver | Uninjured; no citations issued to either party |
| Interim leadership | Chris Foerster, with coordinators Kubiak, Morris and Boyer |
| Shanahan’s tenure | 10th season; ties Bill Walsh for longest in 49ers history |
| Postseason record | Two Super Bowl trips (2019, 2023 seasons), two NFC title games (2021, 2022) |
In its statement, the team said: “Coach Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp while he recovers… Coach Shanahan and the 49ers organization would like to sincerely thank all first responders involved for their efforts and care.”
Shanahan is not expected to be cleared for full activity until his concussion symptoms resolve. No specific return timeline has been announced.
What injuries did Kyle Shanahan suffer?
Shanahan suffered a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, more than 40 stitches to his face, and a severe concussion in the July 14 crash.
Who is running 49ers training camp while Shanahan recovers?
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, along with coordinators Klay Kubiak, Raheem Morris and Brant Boyer, is handling head coaching responsibilities during Shanahan’s recovery.
Was anyone else injured in the crash?
No. Palo Alto police confirmed the other driver involved was not injured, and no citations were issued to either driver.
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