The 2026 offseason has featured multiple P.R. failures by NFL teams. The first was the handling of the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini situation by the Patriots. The latest happened when the 49ers failed to promptly disclose that coach Kyle Shanahan had been in a car accident, holding the information for 11 days.
There was no reason to delay acknowledging the fact that an accident had happened. The accident is different from the injuries. The 49ers could have announced that Shanahan was involved in an accident, that he suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and that further information would be disclosed at the appropriate time.
He's not a private citizen. He's a public figure. He's the head coach of one of the 32 NFL teams. Basic transparency is a must.
Really, what was the point of hiding the fact that the accident happened? The details of the injuries or the events leading to the incident could have waited. It would have been fair and appropriate for the 49ers to disclose that the accident happened.
Beyond the fact that this is part of the life NFL head coaches have chosen, thousands of people bet millions of dollars on sports. At...