San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suffered serious injuries in a car accident near his Palo Alto home on July 14, according to close friend and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. Shanahan, 46, was involved in a collision with another vehicle shortly after 6 p.m. local time, resulting in a range of injuries including a concussion, broken hand, broken nose, fractured ribs, and a significant facial wound that required 40 stitches.

Simms, speaking on “PFT Live,” described the severity of Shanahan’s injuries, noting that the coach narrowly avoided permanent damage to his right eye. “When you first see it and it’s fresh and some of the cuts are still wide open, it’s jarring,” Simms said. He added that Shanahan’s wife had sent photos depicting the extent of the facial injury, and that the coach was fortunate not to suffer more severe consequences.

Details surrounding the accident remain limited. Simms confirmed the other driver involved was a woman but did not provide further specifics. He said Shanahan has been emotionally affected by the incident, expressing concern for the well-being of the other party. “He was emotional about it because he realized how close it was to being just a complete disaster,” Simms said.

Shanahan has been in recovery since the crash, but lingering effects from his concussion have reportedly posed challenges. Despite these issues, he appeared at 49ers practice recently, though he covered his face with a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mustache to conceal injuries.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch stated that Shanahan’s coaching duties will be limited by his physical condition and medical guidance. “Kyle basically is going to be like in the protocol,” Lynch said, indicating that Shanahan would participate only to the extent his health allows.

The team has not provided additional updates on Shanahan’s prognosis, but sources indicate he is focusing on healing while balancing his responsibilities with the 49ers during this recovery period.