49ers coach Kyle Shanahan discusses Tesla autopilot accident at press conference
Kyle Shanahan said his Tesla was on autopilot during the crash that injured him and said he does not know whether a malfunction or accidental disengagement caused the incident.
San Francisco — San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the car crash that occurred four weeks ago during a press conference at the team's 2026 training camp. Shanahan said the accident happened while he was operating his Tesla and that the vehicle was on autopilot at the time. He could not determine whether a system malfunction or his own actions, such as reaching for a phone that fell from his lap, caused the autopilot to disengage.
"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," Shanahan said.
He emphasized that drivers must keep their attention on the road even when using advanced driver-assistance features, describing the technology as a partnership rather than a substitute for human control. Shanahan added that he feels better physically, though he continues to experience headaches and fatigue, and confirmed he will coach the team in the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans.
The coach declined to discuss any formal discussions with players about the incident, noting he does not feel excessive guilt and sees the event as a reminder of the limits of driver-assist systems.