Recently surfaced 911 dispatch audio casts a stark light on the dramatic car accident involving San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, indicating he was found “bleeding from the head” after the crash.
The accident, which occurred in Northern California, came to public attention this past Saturday. It left the revered coach with a host of injuries.
Shanahan, 46, found himself in a serious collision with an SUV near his Palo Alto residence on July 14. The impact resulted in multiple injuries, including a broken nose, three fractured ribs, a hand injury, and more than 40 facial stitches. He also endured a significant concussion.
Paramedics swiftly transported him to a local hospital where he received immediate care before being discharged on the same day. According to a bold ESPN report, the crash did not involve any drugs or alcohol, and the other driver walked away unscathed.
The California Post has released a brief segment of the dispatch audio, capturing the moment authorities were first made aware of the incident shortly after 6:13 PM.
‘You’re responding to an accident at Alma St. and Hamilton Ave,’ one officer says to the first responders.
911 audio after Kyle Shanahan’s car crash appears to reveal he was ‘bleeding from the head’
Shanahan and Mandy share three children together, son Carter and daughters Stella and Lexi
‘It’s going to be a black Tesla vs. a blue Mercedes. There are reports of one driver bleeding from the head.’
Shanahan, who is married to and shares three children – son Carter and daughters Stella and Lexi – with wife Mandy, is reportedly ‘healing well’ but still suffering from symptoms related to the concussion, according to ESPN.
As a result of his injuries, Shanahan will be limited in what he can do when the 49ers open their training camp this weekend ahead of the upcoming NFL season.
His longtime ally Chris Foerster, who serves as assistant head coach, will take on a bigger role in training camp with help from new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
The 49ers’ general manager, John Lynch, told reporters on Saturday that he expects Shanahan to be healthy enough to coach the team in their opening game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on September 10.
‘The timeline kind of takes care of itself. He’s got to meet certain markers,’ Lynch told reporters on Saturday. ‘But I think the expectation is that long before that he’ll be better.’
His week one opponent, Sean McVay, revealed he’s spoken to close friend Shanahan in recent days.
McVay, who worked with Shanahan for four years when they were assistant coaches with the Washington Commanders, revealed on Saturday he was ‘shaken up’ by the news.
Shanahan is expected to be able to coach the 49ers for their week one game on September 10
He told reporters: ‘Most importantly, thank God he and the other person involved is okay. Perspective is everything. We talk about that all the time as coaches, and everybody goes through different things.
‘I think the most important thing is that he’s on the road to recovery. His wife Mandy, and he’s got a beautiful family, and I think any time that something like that happens, it shakes you up a little bit.
‘But most importantly, I have talked to him. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and I know he’s got an incredible perspective on it all. And Kyle’s a stud.
‘I have as much respect for him as anybody and he’s a friend of mine, and I love him and hope that he’s going to have a great recovery.’
Shanahan, the son of legendary NFL head coach and two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan, has been in charge of the 49ers since 2017.
He was poached after his Falcons offense led the league in points scored and helped the team reach the Super Bowl in 2016, when Atlanta infamously let a 28–3 lead slip to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Shanahan’s 49ers are once again considered among the contenders to win the NFC and reach the Super Bowl with a star-studded roster that includes Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Brock Purdy.