'I hit her': 49ers' head coach Kyle Shanahan takes responsibility for car crash, explains what led to the accident

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has taken full responsibility for a recent car crash, candidly admitting, "I hit her," while explaining what led to the accident. Speaking about the incident, Shanahan said the collision was unintentional and accepted the blame without making excuses. He described the circumstances leading up to the crash and expressed regret over what happened. The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly accidents can happen, even during routine drives.

Shanahan clarified the circumstances surrounding the car crash that sidelined him from the start of training camp, saying he - not the other driver - was responsible for the collision. Speaking to a group of reporters, as quoted by Yahoo Sports, on Tuesday, Shanahan admitted that he briefly looked away from the road after his cellphone slipped between the seats. That momentary distraction caused his vehicle to drift into oncoming traffic, leading to the crash.

Earlier reports, based on information from a California traffic collision database, suggested Shanahan was not at fault. The database indicated that the 21-year-old woman driving the other vehicle had made an unsafe turn and also noted that Shanahan had been using his cellphone before the collision.


Shanahan, however, rejected that version of events. He said he was deeply upset after learning that the initial reports appeared to place the blame on the other driver. Calling the information inaccurate, he stressed that the accident happened because he took his attention off the road while reaching for his phone. By accepting full responsibility, Shanahan said he wanted to ensure the other driver was not unfairly blamed for a crash he believes was entirely his fault.

"I hit her," Shanahan said.

"I don't know why it was reported the other way. It was one of those roads that has no forgiveness.

"The impact - I'll never forget it because of how violent it was."

According to multiple media reports, the crash left Shanahan with several serious injuries, including a broken nose, multiple fractured ribs, a broken hand, and a significant concussion. While many of his visible injuries have begun to heal, he said the concussion continues to affect him during training camp.

Shanahan revealed that he was able to watch a full practice film on Monday for the first time since the accident, experiencing only a mild headache. However, his symptoms became more noticeable again the following day. He also shared that this is the first concussion of his life, making the recovery process an unfamiliar and challenging experience.

The 49ers will kick off their 2026 regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 in Australia, marking the first NFL regular-season game ever played in the country.