“It malfunctioned…”: Kyle Shanahan blames Tesla after terrifying car crash as 49ers coach raises shocking Autopilot questions | NFL News

Kyle Shanahan (Image via Getty)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is offering a deeper look at the July 11 car crash that left him with multiple injuries. Shanahan previously accepted responsibility after reaching for his phone while driving, but he now says he cannot rule out a possible issue involving his Tesla Model S and its Autopilot system. His comments add a new layer to an accident that already raised serious concerns.

What Kyle Shanahan revealed about the Tesla car crash

Shanahan initially said the crash happened after his phone slipped from his lap and he turned to retrieve it. His vehicle then moved into oncoming traffic, resulting in an accident that left the longtime 49ers coach injured.While speaking about the incident again this week, Shanahan explained that he still considers himself responsible. However, he also acknowledged that he is unsure what happened with the vehicle’s driving system at the moment of impact.“I’ve had autopilot for nine years, so I’m pretty comfortable with it and, you know, who knows what happened when I turned around? Whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off? That’s something I don’t know yet. But regardless… it is always your fault, whether you’re on autopilot or not. You can’t take your eyes off the road. It’s a partnership driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer, and it’s a good lesson, no matter how comfortable I am with that, that I believe someday could save my life or someone else’s”That admission is important because Shanahan did not definitively blame Tesla. Instead, he raised the possibility that the Autopilot system may have behaved unexpectedly or that he could have accidentally disengaged it while reaching for his phone.His comments also highlight a broader point about driver-assistance technology. Shanahan stressed that drivers remain responsible for paying attention, even when they have become comfortable using automated features.

Could Kyle Shanahan’s crash create trouble for Tesla?

Shanahan’s latest comments have already added speculation about whether Tesla could face further questions over the accident. Some people have pointed to previous reports involving alleged problems with Autopilot, although Shanahan himself has not confirmed that a malfunction caused his crash.That distinction matters. At this stage, there is no established finding that Tesla’s technology caused the accident.The coach’s own account still places responsibility on the driver. His concern is that he cannot explain exactly what happened when he turned away from the road. Whether the system malfunctioned or he accidentally changed its operation remains unclear.For Shanahan, the incident also serves as a personal warning. The 49ers coach has acknowledged how dangerous even a brief distraction can become behind the wheel. His willingness to discuss the crash could also encourage other drivers to avoid becoming overly dependent on driver-assistance technology.The timing is especially notable for San Francisco. Shanahan is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which the 49ers finished 12-5 and won a playoff game after struggling through a 6-11 season the year before.Now, with the 2026 season approaching, the focus will shift back to football. But the coach’s recovery and the unanswered questions surrounding his Tesla crash will remain part of his offseason story.