Kyle Shanahan Admits Fault After Tesla Autopilot Crash
WHO:
NBC Sports - Kyle Shanahan stated he is feeling good and that his head “feels so much better.”
TMZ - Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers
NBC Sports - Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach
WHAT:
NBC Sports - Shanahan confirmed he is still dealing with “headaches and fatigue” after the accident.
CBS Sports - Shanahan mentioned he has cut back on some aspects of his typical coaching duties as he tries to return to full strength.
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated he was using the autopilot feature in his Tesla Model S at the time of the accident and that it occurred after he dropped his phone and took his eyes off the road.
CBS Sports - Shanahan suffered a multitude of injuries from the accident, including a concussion, three broken ribs, and a broken left hand.
NBC Sports - Shanahan mentioned he has been using autopilot in some form for nine years and is "pretty comfortable" with the function.
NBC Sports - Shanahan expressed uncertainty about whether the accident was the result of a malfunction or whether he had inadvertently turned autopilot off while trying to retrieve his phone.
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated he is "roughly at full strength" and plans to coach in the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans.
CBS Sports - Shanahan mentioned he has cut back on some aspects of his typical coaching duties as he tries to return to full strength.
CBS Sports - Shanahan clarified that he crossed into oncoming traffic during the accident, not the driver of the other vehicle.
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated, “I mean, especially when you have a chance to hurt someone else. And so, like, I think you’d get mad when you get a ticket, at yourself. So it was kind of the same.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan mentioned, “You know, things that, you know, I think everyone’s done to a degree what I’ve done. But, you know, dropping a phone and falling all the way to my back seat where I have to fully take my eyes off the road. You know, it’s something that I normally wouldn’t do.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan expressed that he has “zero worries” when using autopilot, but acknowledged that “you can’t ever have zero worries.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan said, “I think it definitely could be example for a lot of people.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated, “I can’t tell you guys how close it is. I’m getting there. And I will be there,” regarding his return to coaching.
The New York Times - Shanahan revealed he was returning home from a chiropractor appointment when the crash occurred.
The New York Times - Shanahan sustained broken ribs, a broken left hand, and a gash over his right brow that required more than 40 stitches to close.
The New York Times - The driver of the other vehicle, a Mercedes SUV, was not hurt, and neither driver was cited; police stated that alcohol and drugs were not a factor.
TMZ - Shanahan revealed that the accident left him seriously injured.
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated, “I mean, anytime you cause an accident that could be avoided, you’d feel pretty stupid,” during his press conference.
NBC Sports - Shanahan mentioned that he has had autopilot for nine years and expressed that it is a good lesson that he believes could save lives.
NBC Sports - Shanahan confirmed he is still dealing with “headaches and fatigue” after the accident.
TMZ - Shanahan's Tesla was on autopilot during the crash.
NBC Sports - Shanahan admitted the accident was his fault.
NBC Sports - Shanahan was traveling at about 20 MPH when the accident occurred.
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated he has had autopilot for nine years.
NBC Sports - Shanahan mentioned he is still dealing with headaches and fatigue after the accident.
NBC Sports - Shanahan confirmed he will coach the team in the preseason opener against the Titans.
WHERE:
The New York Times - The crash occurred while Shanahan was traveling south on Alma Avenue in Palo Alto.
TMZ - The accident involved Shanahan's Tesla.
WHEN:
The New York Times - Shanahan announced he intends to return to the 49ers’ sideline and coach the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans next Thursday at Levi’s Stadium.
The New York Times - Shanahan intends to coach the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans next Thursday at Levi’s Stadium.
The New York Times - Shanahan announced he intends to coach the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans next Thursday at Levi’s Stadium.
NBC Sports - Shanahan held a press conference four weeks after the accident during the 2026 training camp.
WHY:
NBC Sports - Shanahan emphasized that the accident was an “accident” and he didn’t feel a ton of guilt over it.
NBC Sports - Shanahan emphasized, “Regardless, that’s always your fault, whether you’re on autopilot or not. You can’t take your eyes off the road. (Driving) is a partnership. You don’t just turn it over to a computer.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan emphasized, “Regardless, that’s always your fault, whether you’re on autopilot or not. You can’t take your eyes off the road. (Driving) is a partnership. You don’t just turn it over to a computer.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan expressed feelings of stupidity for causing an avoidable accident.
NBC Sports - Shanahan emphasized the importance of not taking one's eyes off the road, even when using autopilot.
HOW:
NBC Sports - Shanahan stated, “You can’t take your eyes off the road. It’s a partnership driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer.”
NBC Sports - Shanahan clarified that the autopilot function apparently switched off when he tried to retrieve a fallen cell phone while traveling south on Alma Avenue in Palo Alto.
NBC Sports - Shanahan confirmed that the accident occurred after he dropped his phone and took his eyes off the road while using the autopilot feature in his Tesla Model S.
NBC Sports - Shanahan clarified that he was retrieving a fallen cell phone when the autopilot function apparently switched off.
NBC Sports - Shanahan explained that he took his eyes off the road to retrieve his phone, which had fallen from his lap to the back seat.
NBC Sports - Shanahan explained that he took his eyes off the road to retrieve his phone, which had fallen into the back seat.
Kyle Shanahan is feeling optimistic about his recovery, stating that his head “feels so much better,” although he is still experiencing headaches and fatigue following an accident. He has scaled back some of his coaching responsibilities as he works to regain full strength, but he confirmed his intention to return to the 49ers’ sideline for their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans next Thursday at Levi’s Stadium. Shanahan described the incident as an “accident” and emphasized the importance of staying focused while driving, saying, “You can’t take your eyes off the road.”