The station was airing a report on San Francisco 49ers NFL football coach Kyle Shanahan, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a recent car crash. A pic used during the newscast featured Shanahan in street clothes on a hospital bed, flanked by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao. The AI-generated pic was a meme based on a proof-of-life photo of McConnell, who was recently hospitalized. (WATCH)WGN posted a meme of Kyle Shanahan as Mitch McConnell when reporting on his car accident. — Jason Krump (@JasonKrump) July 30, 2026I appreciate his commitment to wearing a hat in a hospital bed.