49ers Coach Slams NFL for Sending Team to Australia

Shanahan criticizes league's decision to have 49ers open season in Melbourne against Rams

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:19pm by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football game scene, with players and the field broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes in a variety of colors.The NFL's first regular season game in Australia will force the 49ers to contend with logistical challenges and potential injury risks.San Francisco Today

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has strongly criticized the NFL's decision to have his team open the 2026 season with a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Shanahan cited the challenges of traveling 19 hours to the other side of the world and the early 10:30 a.m. local kickoff time, which is designed to air the game in primetime in the United States.

Why it matters

The 49ers were one of the most injured teams in the league in 2025, and Shanahan is concerned that the long travel and early kickoff time could exacerbate injury issues for his squad. The game in Australia also marks the first time the NFL has held a regular season contest outside of North America.

The details

The 49ers will face the Rams in Melbourne on September 10, 2026, with a 10:30 a.m. local kickoff time. Shanahan said the team is essentially 'going back in time or into the future' with the long travel, and he sees no benefits to his team playing the season opener on the other side of the globe.

  • The 49ers-Rams game in Melbourne is scheduled for September 10, 2026.
  • The 49ers were one of the most injured teams in the NFL in 2025.

The players

Kyle Shanahan

The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, who has criticized the NFL's decision to have his team open the 2026 season in Australia.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who will face the 49ers in the game in Melbourne.

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What they’re saying

“That was our goal, to go 19 hours away. We're going back in time or into the future. We either gain a day or lose a day, I can't remember which.”

— Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

“No, not at all. It's cool for the league. As far as a team doing it, no, there's not much benefit to it. Sometimes it's nice to get a bye week after, but this is Week 1.”

— Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

What’s next

The NFL will monitor the 49ers-Rams game in Australia closely to gauge fan interest and the logistical challenges of holding a regular season contest outside of North America.

The takeaway

Shanahan's strong criticism of the NFL's decision to send the 49ers to Australia highlights the potential drawbacks of expanding the league's international footprint, especially for teams that have struggled with injuries. The game will be a test case for the league as it explores new global markets.