Kyle Shanahan Voices Frustration Over 49ers' Season Opener in Australia
Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, has expressed significant dissatisfaction regarding his team's upcoming season opener in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on September 11, 2026. This matchup marks the NFL's first game ever held Down Under, and Shanahan is concerned about the logistical challenges it presents. The game is set to kick off at 10:35 a.m. local time in Melbourne, translating to 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday night in the United States. Shanahan's primary grievance revolves around the impact of this trip on the team's preseason schedule. Key Concerns: - The 49ers will miss out on their allotted four days off after the preseason due to travel. - Shanahan stated, "You kind of miss that week to recover and to have those days off and those bonus days." He lamented that if the 49ers weren't traveling for this game, they would benefit from those extra practices and recovery days. Despite acknowledging the extensive travel, he emphasized that the loss of recovery time is his main issue. Following the Australian opener, the 49ers play three consecutive home games, but Shanahan dismissed this as a positive, arguing it merely sets them up for a tougher schedule later in the season. The team's travel plans involve an NFL-record 38,105 miles in 2026, beginning with a 16-hour flight to Melbourne on September 2, arriving two days later. Shanahan noted the importance of acclimatizing to the 17-hour time difference, leading to their decision to leave nine days before the game. Additionally, the 49ers will face the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City on November 22, 2026, requiring a strategy to adapt to the high altitude there. Consequently, the 49ers will be away from home for a total of at least 18 days across both international games.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-29