The 49ers are off and running to Melbourne, Australia, to begin preparing for their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, and coach Kyle Shanahan is both lucky to be alive and involved in game prep.

Shanahan was involved in a car crash in mid-July when he suffered numerous injuries, including a broken hand, nose and ribs. Now back and healthy, Shanahan is ready to lead the 49ers back to the promised land. Speaking on “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami, general manager John Lynch is excited to have his coach fully back, even if he is a little “ornery.”

“It’s been a gradual process,” Lynch said. “Kyle and I spend so much time together but just communication and clarity of that communication. His stamina coming back has probably been the big thing. Stamina is not only feeling better, it’s being able to sleep the night before so that he comes in, not fresh coaches are never fresh, but that he comes in clear of mind and can take on the hours that are necessary.

“I think he did a really good job, our team of people around him did a really good job of taking a step back. That’s not an easy thing to do, especially when you’re someone like Kyle who is so involved in every facet of what we do as an organization. Kyle is a wonderful person, he’s fun, he’s funny but he challenges everything. Sometimes we’ll get a little ornery and I think some of that in the last 15 days, some of that is coming out and challenging things, plans we’ve made… .”

Since the car accident, Shanahan still has been around the team, but offensive line coach Chris Foerster served as the acting head coach early on in camp, participating in media availability and handling the main coaching responsibilities. But over time, Shanahan returned to his normal routine, even coaching all three of the 49ers’ preseason contests.

The 49ers finished 12-5 and returned to the playoffs last season after missing out on them entirely in 2024. But after seeing their season come to a crashing halt in the NFC Divisional playoffs, Shanahan and the team are on a mission in 2026 to get back into Super Bowl contention. Acquiring several key players this offseason such as Mike Evans, Dre Greenlaw and Osa Odighizuwa, the 49ers hope this new-look roster can be the secret to a sixth title.

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