49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Injured in Tesla Autopilot Crash
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was injured in a July 2026 car accident while operating a Tesla on autopilot. Shanahan reportedly dropped his phone, took his eyes off the road to retrieve it from the back seat, and caused the crash, though he questioned whether the autopilot malfunctioned.
What happened
On July 14, 2026, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in a car accident while operating his Tesla on autopilot.
Shanahan stated that he dropped his phone and had to take his eyes fully off the road to retrieve it from the back seat. He expressed uncertainty about whether the autopilot malfunctioned or was inadvertently disengaged when he turned around.
Reported impact
Shanahan suffered a severe concussion from the crash and continued to experience headaches weeks later. He initially met with reporters in his office and stated the accident was his fault, later speaking at a formal press conference.
Index analysis
Shanahan had used autopilot for nine years and stated he was comfortable with the feature, but said the incident taught him not to fully trust Tesla Autopilot.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.