Kyle Shanahan is getting close to full strength. The 49ers head coach said Saturday he intends to be on the sidelines for San Francisco’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Aug. 13, at Levi’s Stadium, marking his most significant step yet in returning from the car accident that sidelined him at the start of training camp.
Shanahan stood at the podium for the first time since the July 14 crash and fielded questions directly from reporters. According to ESPN, he described himself as close to fully recovered. “As far as the important stuff, I feel it’s about 100%,” Shanahan said.
The accident left him with a concussion, three broken ribs and a broken left hand, among other injuries, per ESPN’s report. He has spent the past several weeks managing headaches and fatigue while ceding day-to-day coaching duties to assistant head coach Chris Foerster and his coordinators.
Shanahan has still shown up around the building during that stretch, even while handing off responsibilities. He told reporters the biggest lesson of his recovery has been pacing himself. “The biggest thing I have learned with this stuff is just when you deal with fatigue and headaches and stuff is if I kind of do everything, I kind of pay for it in some ways later,” he said, describing the routine he’s settled into during recovery.
David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard reported over the weekend that Shanahan’s symptoms have eased to the point where a return to the sideline is realistic. “Kyle Shanahan says that he no longer is sensitive to noise. He still has some headaches and fatigue after suffering a concussion in the car accident, but he plans to coach in the 49ers’ preseason opener against Tennessee on Thursday,” Lombardi wrote on X —
Kyle Shanahan says that he no longer is sensitive to noise. He still has some headaches and fatigue after suffering a concussion in the car accident, but he plans to coach in the 49ers' preseason opener against Tennessee on Thursday
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 8, 2026
It’s not yet clear exactly how much of the on-field coaching load Shanahan will carry Thursday. Last season he let offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak handle play-calling duties, and he may lean on his staff again as he eases back into full-time work.
What Happened in the Crash
Shanahan has been direct about one detail since the accident: he says it was his fault. He told reporters he briefly took his eyes off the road to search for a phone that had fallen between the seats, and when he looked back up, his vehicle had crossed the center line into an SUV.
That account matters because of a data discrepancy that surfaced afterward. A state collision database had listed the other driver, a young woman, as being at fault — an error Palo Alto police have since acknowledged. Lt. Nicolas Martines said in a statement that the report contained a clerical mistake during its transmission to the state system and that the department is correcting it, adding that neither driver received preferential treatment at the scene.
The other driver was not injured. Shanahan was taken by ambulance and treated at a hospital before being released.
The Road Back
General Manager John Lynch addressed the injury the day after it happened, telling reporters the team would put Shanahan through the same concussion protocol players go through. Lynch downplayed any concern about the timeline. “I think the expectation is that, long before that, he’ll be better,” he said, referring to the regular-season opener.
That opener carries its own weight this year — the 49ers open the 2026 season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, part of a record nine international games the NFL is staging this season. Shanahan has been openly unenthusiastic about the setup, at one point saying he doesn’t see “any pro” in opening the year overseas.
Thursday’s game against the Titans is the first test of where his recovery actually stands. If Shanahan handles the sideline without setbacks, it removes one of the lingering question marks hanging over a 49ers team that enters the season considered one of the NFC’s stronger contenders.
49ers 2026 Preseason Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Preseason Week 1 | vs. Tennessee Titans | Levi’s Stadium |
| Regular Season Week 1 | at Los Angeles Rams | Melbourne, Australia |
