Kyle Shanahan admits fault in car crash that nearly cost him his eye

Kyle Shanahan nearly lost his eye in the crash

Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, came close to losing his right eye in a two-car accident on July 14 in Palo Alto, California. Shanahan addressed the crash publicly and said up front that it was his fault. He took his eyes off the road briefly to find his phone, which had fallen between the seats. When he looked up, he had crossed the line into oncoming traffic.

The accident happened just after 6 p.m. PT, a few miles from Shanahan's home. Palo Alto police confirmed no drugs or alcohol were involved and that both drivers cooperated. Shanahan was taken to a local hospital and released the same day.

The 49ers kept it quiet until July 25, just before training camp opened.

What his injuries actually look like

The full picture: broken nose, three ribs, and his hand, more than 40 stitches in his face, a severe concussion, and the near-loss of his right eye. GM John Lynch said Shanahan is recovering well from most of the injuries but still has lingering concussion symptoms.

That last part is the one to watch.

What this means for 49ers fantasy players

Shanahan is the play-caller in San Francisco. His offense directly shapes the value of every 49ers skill player on your roster. While assistant head coach Chris Foerster and the team's coordinators are stepping in to handle head coaching duties, Shanahan's hands-on involvement during training camp and the preseason is uncertain.

The 49ers open the season against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 in the first-ever game played in Australia. If Shanahan is still limited by concussion symptoms as that date approaches, questions about offensive preparation and play-calling clarity are fair ones.

Keep an eye on his recovery timeline as preseason progresses. Any sign that he is not fully back in control of the offense is worth factoring into how you value 49ers pass-catchers and backs in redraft and dynasty leagues.