RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesDec 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium. © Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
NFL training camps are starting up across the country, but instead of leading his team’s sessions for what would be his 10th season, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is out of commission. The 46-year-old is currently recovering from a serious car accident that occurred on July 14.
After getting 40 stitches to his face, nearly losing his right eye, suffering a concussion, fractured ribs, a broken nose, and a broken hand, there is no timetable for Shanahan to resume his full head coaching duties.
Yet, since his accident, a lot of fascinating information has come to light. Some are going so far as to say the 49ers have botched the way the whole thing was handled.
Did the 49ers Mishandle Kyle Shanahan’s Accident?
It took a while, nearly two weeks from the day Shanahan was involved in his car accident on July 14, for the news to surface on July 25. For whatever reason, the 49ers chose to keep it under wraps.
Now, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is sounding off on PFT Live alongside Chris Simms, saying the 49ers’ organization “mishandled the Kyle Shanahan situation from the get-go.”
“They could have announced right away that the accident happened, that he sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and that more information will be provided at the appropriate time,” Florio said. He firmly believes the 49ers “screwed this thing up” all along.
“The 49ers blew this. Because the fact that he was in the accident, Dan Patrick said this yesterday, ‘If this happens while camp’s open, of course we’re gonna know about it.’ He’s not at practice the next day. Why’s he not here? He was in an accident last night.”
Yet, Florio goes on to argue that there was no reason for the 49ers to have tried to conceal the accident to begin with.
“The fact that the accident happened should not have been hidden,” Florio argued. “You can announce exactly what they announced on Saturday: that Kyle Shanahan was in an accident, with non-life-threatening injuries. There will be further updates at the appropriate time. Boom! That’s it.”
Florio can’t figure out why the 49ers would have possibly tried to delay the announcement, but by doing so, he believes they’re the ones who essentially opened up a conspiracy “rabbit hole.”
“I don’t know why they hid it, but by doing what they did, it’s created for some, for those willing to explore the rabbit hole, it’s created a rabbit hole to think something must be going on here, and it put people like you in a delicate position,” Florio stated.
“I put this on the 49ers for not doing the right thing and disclosing immediately that an accident happened. It’s non-life-threatening injuries. Further information will be provided at the appropriate time. I think people would have respected that. I am confounded and dumbfounded now that I’ve had a chance to think about it, why they didn’t do that.”
Florio was in conversation with Simms, his co-host, who had previously disclosed that Shanahan had nearly lost an eye in the ordeal.
Looking back, Florio can’t figure out why the 49ers weren’t just honest and up-front about the situation from the very start. If not, maybe no one would still be talking about it.
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