Just days after a scary car accident, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is defying expectations by returning to the sideline for the team's preseason opener. According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, Shanahan plans to be on the field Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, a testament to his remarkable recovery.
Shanahan admitted he's not quite back to his old self but feels close. "As far as the important stuff, I feel it's about 100%," he said. "The biggest thing I have learned with this stuff is just when you deal with fatigue and headaches and stuff is if I kind of do everything, I kind of pay for it in some ways later."
The coach's return is a huge boost for a team already dealing with a long injury list. The 49ers have been hit hard, with 20 players sidelined at Wednesday's practice, making Shanahan's presence even more critical as he manages a depleted roster.
Managing Symptoms
Shanahan is still experiencing some effects from the crash, including headaches and fatigue. He's adjusting his routine to avoid overdoing it, but he's confident he's on the mend. "My head feels so much better," he said. "Concussions do linger a little bit. All the things I really deal with now is just headaches and fatigue, but that's why I'm not always exactly in the same routine, but pretty damn close."
The accident occurred when Shanahan briefly took his eyes off the road after his phone dropped. He was traveling at just 20 mph when he collided with another vehicle, and fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The incident has sparked conversations about his use of Tesla's Autopilot prior to the crash, adding another layer to the story.
Preseason Priorities
While many coaches choose to sit out preseason games, Shanahan's decision to return so quickly underscores his commitment to the team. It also sets a tone for the preseason, much like other NFL coaches are making similar calls. For instance, the Chiefs are likely to sideline Patrick Mahomes for their opener, while Mike Tomlin hints at a possible NFL return, and Jon Gruden is back in the booth for the Bucs. Shanahan, however, is all in on coaching from the sideline.
He acknowledged that he's not yet doing everything exactly as before, but he's getting there. "I try not to come in here every single day because I feel like, if I did, I wouldn't be able to pull off my normal routine, which is watching hours and hours of tape and getting to walk through the night being able to watch stuff after that," he explained. "Eventually, I will get there."
For now, 49ers fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Their head coach is back where he belongs, ready to lead the team through the preseason and beyond.
