Kyle Shanahan Was ‘This Close’ to Losing His Eye in Gruesome Car Crash, Friend Reveals
Kyle Shanahan Was ‘This Close’ to Losing His Eye in Gruesome Car Crash, Friend Reveals
Skyler CarusoTue, July 28, 2026 at 2:31 PM UTC
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Chris Simms (left) and Kyle Shanahan.Credit: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty; Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty -
Kyle Shanahan suffered severe injuries, including a concussion, broken ribs and 40 facial stitches, in a July 14 car crash
Shanahan was close to losing his right eye, his friend Chris Simms said, and is still dealing with lingering effects of the concussion
The 49ers coach will participate in team activities on a limited basis while recovering from the accident
Kyle Shanahan nearly lost his vision after his was in a two-vehicle car crash in Palo Alto on July 14.
Chris Simms, a friend and former college teammate of the San Francisco 49ers coach, shared gruesome injury details from the automobile incident when speaking on PFT Live on Monday, July 27.
“I get a text from Kyle’s wife, Mandy. She texts myself and my wife, and it’s like, ‘Oh no, Kyle’s been a part of some horrible accident,’” Simms told his co-host Mike Florio of Shanahan, 46, on the show. “And she sent us some pictures right off the bat, and it was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ ”
“So just to … paint the picture, you’ve seen the injury report, the broken ribs, 40 stitches in the face, the broken nose, broken left hand. Of course, the bad concussion,” he continued. “But when you first see it, and it’s fresh, and some of the cuts are still wide open, I mean, it’s jarring.”
Kyle Shanahan celebrates with his family after defeating the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024.Credit: Kevin Sabitus/Getty
Simms added, “He was this close to maybe losing his right eye, right? The scar is so big right here. And so, all that stuff was just crazy to see. And, of course, I was thinking of my friend, but yeah, it’s tough.”
Simms then shared an update on Shanahan’s recovery, noting that his visible injuries are improving but that he’s still dealing with a head injury.
“He’s healing,” he said of the NFL coach. “His face looks a whole lot better, but this concussion, of course, being a part of that kind of accident, is lingering, and it’s giving him issues, and he’s certainly still dealing with that.”
Shanahan collided with an SUV near his northern California home in mid-July, ESPN reported, citing sources familiar with the situation at the time. He suffered a severe concussion, three broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken hand in the crash, per the outlet.
NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms looks on prior to the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on July 31, 2025.Credit: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty
The coach was taken to a local hospital following the collision, and the other driver was not injured, per ESPN. Shanahan spent a good portion of the evening of July 14 in the hospital, but has since been released.
The Palo Alto Police Department confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that a crash had happened at around 6:13 p.m. local time on July 14, but didn’t name those involved. They responded to the scene of the collision along with the Palo Alto Fire Department.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been involved, according to a Palo Alto police report.
Simms, who played quarterback at Texas while Shanahan was a receiver there, said on the show that he believed Shanahan was returning from a chiropractic adjustment when the accident took place.
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He said his friend was shaken up by the severity of the crash and how it could have been worse.
Kyle Shanahan and Mandy Shanahan with their kids Stella, Lexi and Carter during the NFC Championship trophy ceremony following game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium on January 19, 2020.Credit: Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
“It hit him hard, right? He was emotional about it, because he realized how close it was to being just a complete, you know, utter disaster. Like, really, it was a disaster anyways,” Simms shared. “But when you’re that part of that accident, like I said, he could have lost his right eye.”
“It could have been a lot worse,” he added. “He’s very concerned about the woman he got in the accident with and how she is and handling that situation. So there’s just a lot there.”
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Simms noted that it was “a lot for him to process,” especially this close to the start of the NFL season. He also shared that it wasn’t easy on his family.
“It was tough for him. It’s tough for their family. Their kids were in shock, and you just realize how fragile life can be, and how it can all change in just one split-second. And thank God he’s okay,” he said of his friend.
Simms added, “He’s gonna have to deal with this and hopefully get his mind cleared up here over the next few weeks.”
The 49ers addressed the incident in a statement shared on Saturday, July 25.
Kyle Shanahan on the field during Rookie Minicamp at SAP Performance Facility on May 8, 2026.Credit: Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
“San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in a car accident last week where he suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Coach Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp while he recovers,” the statement read.
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, along with team coordinators, will handle head coach responsibilities while Shanahan recovers, the team said.
“Coach Shanahan and the 49ers organization would like to sincerely thank all first responders involved for their efforts and care,” the 49ers said.
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
