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SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has given a detailed account of a recent car accident that occurred days before a key divisional matchup, saying the episode began when his phone slipped from his lap while he was driving at about 20 miles per hour. Shanahan said the phone became stuck in his seat, and he momentarily looked down to find it, taking his eyes off the road for about two seconds. As he looked back up, the vehicle’s airbags deployed and struck him in the face, leaving him visibly battered and bruised. He stressed that he had not been using the phone at the time, only reacting after it fell, and said the rapid airbag deployment caught him by surprise. The incident has sparked debate among fans and commentators about distracted driving and about Shanahan’s decision to divert his attention from the road, even briefly, in the days leading up to an important playoff push. Some observers have questioned how a relatively low-speed collision could trigger such a forceful airbag deployment, while others have focused on what the accident might mean for his short-term physical readiness to lead the team from the sideline. Footage from the parking lot where the crash occurred has circulated online, prompting further scrutiny of the circumstances and fueling calls from some fans for more information from the 49ers’ organization about the coach’s condition and availability.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.