The San Francisco 49ers organization and the entire NFL community are breathing a collective sigh of relief after learning just how close head coach Kyle Shanahan came to losing his eye in a horrific car crash earlier this month.
According to close friend and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, who spoke candidly on Monday's edition of PFT Live, Shanahan suffered a broken nose, multiple broken ribs, a broken hand, a severe concussion, and deep facial lacerations that required more than 40 stitches. But the most alarming detail? Shanahan nearly lost his right eye entirely.
“When you first see it, and it’s fresh, and some of the cuts are still wide open, I mean, it’s jarring — it’s jarring,” Simms said. “He was this close to maybe losing his right eye, right? The scar is so big right here. So all that stuff was just crazy to see, and of course, I was thinking of my friend. But yeah, it’s tough.”
The two-car collision occurred on July 14 in Palo Alto, and the 49ers have been tight-lipped about the extent of Shanahan's injuries. In fact, reports have surfaced that the team tried to keep the incident under wraps, but the severity eventually leaked out. Simms, who received photos from Shanahan's wife showing the coach's battered condition, described the emotional toll the accident has taken on his friend.
“I don’t think he’d have any problem with me sharing this — it hit him hard,” Simms continued. “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. But you know, 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.”
Shanahan's family, including his children, were reportedly in shock after seeing him in the aftermath. “There’s just a lot there,” Simms added. “And I think it was a lot for him to process. … It was tough for him. It’s tough for their family. Their kids were in shock and, you know, you just realize how fragile life can be and how it can all change in just one split second. Thank God he’s OK.”
Despite the harrowing experience, Shanahan is expected to participate in 49ers training camp on a limited basis, much like a player going through the league's concussion protocol. The initial reports of his hospitalization had already sent shockwaves through the NFL, but the full scope of his near-death experience is only now becoming clear.
While Shanahan's recovery will be closely monitored, the focus remains on his health and well-being. The 49ers' season may hinge on his return to full duty, but for now, the football world is simply grateful that he's still here to lead the team.
