49ers Face Epic Travel Challenge in 2026 NFL Schedule, Panthers Enjoy a Cozy Ride
The 2026 NFL schedule is anticipated to be unveiled this Thursday night, revealing several key matchups and travel details for all 32 teams. Notably, the international slate features a record-breaking nine games, with early highlights including the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 and the Denver Broncos facing the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Bill Speros of Bookies.com has meticulously calculated the travel distances for each team, totaling 628,873 miles across the league, equivalent to 25.2 trips around the Earth. Here’s a breakdown of the top teams by miles traveled: San Francisco 49ers: 38,105 miles Los Angeles Rams: 34,847 miles Houston Texans: 28,470 miles Dallas Cowboys: 27,980 miles New England Patriots: 27,590 miles The San Francisco 49ers are set to make history, traveling over 38,100 miles, largely due to their participation in the inaugural NFL Australia game and a trip to Mexico City in Week 11. They will also cross 58 time zones, surpassing the previous record of 42 held by the Los Angeles Chargers. However, there’s a potential twist: if the 49ers can bundle their trips to the Giants and Falcons, they might avoid breaking the mileage record. The scheduling of those games remains uncertain, raising questions about whether they could be placed back-to-back to ease travel. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Carolina Panthers will enjoy the least travel, with only 8,740 miles to cover, traveling 4.4 times less than the 49ers. Their itinerary includes just six time zone changes and no trips west of Minneapolis. This stark contrast highlights the varying travel demands teams will face in the upcoming season.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-13