Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

Kyle Shanahan Returns for 49ers Opener After 20 mph Crash, Reassesses Tesla Autopilot and Concussions

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

Kyle Shanahan Returns for 49ers Opener After 20 mph Crash, Reassesses Tesla Autopilot and Concussions

Q: How did a dropped phone in the back seat almost cost the 49ers their head coach just weeks before their Australian debut?

A dropped phone nearly cost the 49ers their head coach because Kyle Shanahan took his eyes off the road to retrieve it while his Tesla was on autopilot, then crossed the center line and crashed into an SUV on July 14. Shanahan said the phone slipped from his lap and fell into the back seat, forcing him to fully turn away from the road. He was traveling about 20 mph and trusted the autopilot system enough to look away, but the car either malfunctioned or was accidentally disengaged when he turned; he said he still does not know which. He has stressed that the crash was his fault regardless, saying drivers cannot “turn it over to a computer” and must keep watching the road. The consequences were severe. Shanahan suffered a concussion, three broken ribs, a broken hand, a broken nose and facial injuries that required about 40 stitches. Reports from those close to him said he came close to losing his right eye. The other driver was not injured. The timing made the incident especially significant for San Francisco. It happened only weeks before the 49ers are due to open their regular season against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, creating a temporary coaching disruption during training camp. Shanahan now says he expects to coach the preseason opener against Tennessee on Aug. 13 and does not expect to miss the regular-season debut if his recovery continues.

Q: What really caused Kyle Shanahan's terrifying Tesla crash, and could a system malfunction be hiding behind his distracted driving admission?

The evidence points to driver distraction as the established cause of Kyle Shanahan’s crash, not a proven Tesla system failure. Shanahan has repeatedly said he was at fault. He told reporters he dropped his phone, turned away to retrieve it, and took his eyes off the road for a couple of seconds. He later added that the Tesla was on Autopilot at the time and that he trusted it enough to look away. Palo Alto police also confirmed Shanahan was at fault and said an earlier state database entry blaming the other driver was a clerical error. What remains unresolved is whether Autopilot malfunctioned or whether Shanahan accidentally disengaged it while reaching back. Shanahan himself said he still does not know. There is no public evidence in the reporting that Tesla or investigators have identified a software or hardware defect, and Shanahan has explicitly said he is not blaming Tesla. That distinction matters. Tesla describes Autopilot as a hands-on driver-assistance feature requiring a fully attentive driver, not a self-driving system that can replace the person behind the wheel. By Shanahan’s own account, he violated that expectation when he fully looked away from the road. So, based on what is publicly known, there is no verified indication that a hidden system malfunction caused the crash. The known facts support a distraction-related collision, with unanswered but unproven questions about whether Autopilot stayed engaged or failed in the seconds before impact.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

Kyle Shanahan said he will coach San Francisco's preseason opener this week, his first sideline return since a July head-on crash left him with broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken left hand, facial cuts and a concussion.
20 mph on Tesla Autopilot became a key detail in Shanahan's account: he said dropping his phone and looking away caused the crash, though he cannot rule out a malfunction and said the driver remains responsible.
Lingering headaches and fatigue still keep Shanahan from feeling 100%, even as noise sensitivity has eased and the stitches on his face have been removed.
That recovery has also changed how he views player concussions, with Shanahan saying labels such as "mild" can be misleading and that he now better understands the fear and uncertainty players face in protocol.