Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 10
Kyle Shanahan Says July 11 Concussion Changed His View of Player Head Injuries
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 10

Kyle Shanahan Says July 11 Concussion Changed His View of Player Head Injuries

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 10

Summary

  • Kyle Shanahan said his severe concussion from a July 11 car accident has given him a far deeper understanding of how frightening and unpredictable head injuries can be for players.
  • At his first 49ers training-camp press conference since the crash, Shanahan said labels like “mild” and “severe” can mislead because each concussion is different and recovery is uncertain.
  • That experience could make Shanahan more willing to let players take extra time before returning and less likely to let them lose depth-chart standing because of concussion absences.
  • The comments land in an NFL that has treated concussions more seriously since 2009, though players still sometimes hide symptoms and the league still has occasional spotting lapses.

Insights

Could Shanahan's newfound empathy for concussed players ultimately conflict with the cutthroat pressure of winning high-stakes games?
Why did it take a severe personal accident for a top NFL head coach to finally respect concussion protocols?