The NFL schedule makers did the San Francisco 49ers no favors next season.
Despite playing nine home games and eight away, the 49ers will travel 38,105 miles next season — more than any team in 2026. It’s also more than any team ever in NFL history, per David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard.
The 49ers will travel 3,258 more miles than the next-closest team, the Los Angeles Rams (34,847 miles). San Francisco and L.A., which play one another in Melbourne, Australia, in Week 1, are the only two teams with more than 30,000 travel miles next season.
In addition to the season opener in Australia, the 49ers will also travel to Mexico City on Nov. 22 for a Week 11 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Kyle Shanahan Irked by 49ers’ Travel Schedule
GettySan Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is not happy about having o open the season in Australia
After learning San Francisco was slated to travel close to 8,000 miles. And over 16 hours to Australia, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t hesitate to let the league know that he wasn’t thrilled about the arrangement.
“I was so fired up [when I heard],” Shanahan sarcastically told reporters. “That was our goal to go 19 hours away to play a game. … We’ll deal with it. And I think there’s [nine] international games. We’ve got two of them, so we’re fired up about that.
“… I don’t see any pro [for us]. It’s cool for the league to play globally. I think that’s awesome. But as far as the team doing it, no, there’s not much benefit to it. Sometimes it’s nice to get a bye week after but doesn’t happen in Week 1.”
Shanahan even went as far as to accuse the NFL of conspiring with the Rams during an appearance on “Pro Football Talk” back in April. He believes L.A. wanted the Australia game to keep 49ers fans from taking over their stadium.
“I’m pretty sure the Rams lobbied for that game,” Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stated.
“I know for a fact they did, that’s why it’s so bothersome,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully the league will do right and let us play the Rams in Mexico since we got to go out of the country twice and they requested us. I’m requesting them in Mexico — not that that gives us an advantage, it’s just fair to make them go out of the country.”
“So you think the Rams have lobbied because they’re sick of seeing the 49ers dominate the crowd at SoFi?” PFT analyst Chris Simms asked.
Shanahan responded: “Yeah, and I get that — that would suck to have to do a silent cadence and have our home game at their stadium, so I get their ambitions. But they were rewarded that, so I’m hoping we can get our request too. I’d love them to come to Mexico. Our Mexican fan base is awesome.”
Roger Goodell Fires Back at Shanahan
GettyNFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had some words for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan about the team’s travel schedule
Shanahan’s remarks made their way back to Roger Goodell. The NFL commissioner was asked if he had anything to say to the snarky comments made by the 49ers HC.
“Coaches [should] focus on winning — that’s their No. 1 job,” Goodell told reporters. “And so, coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach, but also someone who truly understands the importance of expanding our game globally. But his job is to win, his job is to play. I always say coaches like to play at 1 o’clock and 4 o’clock, and don’t get in the way of that.”
Goodell also offered to help Shanahan overcome any possible jetlag he may experience following his 15-plus hour flight to Melbourne.
“I have an app for him [for jetlag], which I’m going to send to him because my wife hooked me up with an app, and I’ve got to tell you, I feel great,” Goodell stated. “I have not felt any jetlag at all. We’ve been here since Tuesday morning, and I thought it was a relatively easy trip.”
49ers Facing Historically Brutal 2026 Travel Schedule