For most coaches, the issue of player concussions requires sympathy. Moving forward, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan will easily be able to empathize with players who have suffered head trauma.
In his first training-camp press conference following a July 11 automobile accident, Shanahan was asked if the severe concussion that he sustained will change his perspective on players who are dealing with the effects of brain injuries.
"Yeah, no doubt," Shanahan said. "I've been told so much by these guys, don't compare a sports concussion to an accident like this. I'm starting to realize that now. Just little things, like when they label things, like whether it's severe or mild. You hear someone has a mild one, I'm like, â??Oh, alright. It might be one game, but usually that's two.' Then you kind of learn those are just words. Each one's a little bit different. I definitely can relate to how scary it is when you don't know if you will feel right again. It's definitely made me more educated on it. Usually I just listen, and like, â??Tell me when, OK?' and I move on, but I understand it a lot better and what guys got to go through and the...