San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was injured in a serious car crash in Northern California just days before training camp, the team announced Saturday.
Shanahan, 46, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the July 14 wreck and will be limited when the 49ers open camp, according to the organization.
The crash left one of the NFL’s most respected coaches badly banged up at the worst possible time for a franchise trying to make another Super Bowl run.
Shanahan collided with an SUV near his Northern California home, according to ESPN.
He broke his nose, three ribs and one of his hands, suffered a severe concussion and needed more than 40 stitches to his face, sources familiar with the situation told the outlet.
Shanahan was taken to a local hospital after the crash and released later that day, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.
The driver of the other vehicle was not injured, police said.
49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters Saturday that Shanahan suffered a concussion and has had lingering symptoms as he recovers.
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Lynch said the coach is being cared for and monitored by the team’s medical staff.
Still, Lynch sounded optimistic about Shanahan’s condition.
He said Shanahan is “doing good.”
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster is expected to take over some of Shanahan’s head coaching duties while he recovers, the team said.
The 49ers are scheduled to open training camp Sunday.
“Coach Shanahan and the 49ers organization would like to sincerely thank all first responders involved for their efforts and care,” the team said in a statement.
Shanahan has led the 49ers since 2017 and turned San Francisco back into one of the NFL’s toughest, most consistent contenders.
He has guided the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances and multiple deep playoff runs, building a bruising, disciplined team in a league that too often rewards flash over substance.
The timing of the crash is brutal for San Francisco.
Training camp is where Super Bowl dreams either sharpen or start to crack, and the 49ers now begin with their head coach recovering from a major accident instead of fully running the operation.
But Shanahan’s injuries are not life-threatening, and the team made clear he is still expected to participate on a limited basis.
For a franchise built on toughness, that matters.
Shanahan is not stepping away.
He is recovering, delegating and trying to keep the 49ers moving while his body heals.
The coach who has spent years demanding grit from his players now has to show some of his own.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
