San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan disclosed on Saturday that his Tesla was operating on Autopilot at the time of his July 14 car crash in Palo Alto, yet he continues to take complete responsibility for the incident.
Speaking during a training camp press conference, Shanahan explained that he had used Tesla’s Autopilot system for nine years and felt highly comfortable with it. While driving his 2023 Model S at about 20 mph in a 25 mph zone on Alma Street, his cellphone slid from his lap deep between the seats—reaching as far as the back seat. He fully turned and took his eyes off the road to retrieve it.
“I’ve had autopilot for nine years, so I’m pretty comfortable with it. Who knows what happened when I turned around, whether it malfunctioned or I knocked it off? That’s something I don’t know yet,” Shanahan said. “But regardless, it is always your fault, whether you’re on autopilot or not—take your eyes off the road, it’s a partnership, driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer.”
The head-on collision with a 2025 Mercedes-Benz SUV driven by a 21-year-old woman left Shanahan with a concussion, broken nose, broken left hand, three broken ribs, and a facial laceration requiring about 40 stitches. The other driver sustained only minor injuries. An initial state database entry wrongly blamed the woman due to a clerical error; Shanahan corrected the record in late July, insisting he had veered into oncoming traffic.
Tesla describes Autopilot as a hands-on driver-assistance feature that requires a fully attentive driver at all times. Shanahan said the crash served as a powerful reminder: even at low speeds with strong trust in the technology, drivers cannot afford zero worries. He framed the experience as a valuable lesson in personal accountability and the limits of current driver-assistance systems.
Shanahan remains focused on recovery, managing lingering concussion symptoms such as headaches and fatigue while preparing for the upcoming season. His candid remarks underscore both the promise and the ongoing need for human oversight in advanced vehicle technology.