Goodell Brushes Off Shanahan's Australia Game Complaint, Offers Help

NFL commissioner says coaches want to win, not worry about travel logistics.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:54pm by

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting an abstract, geometric representation of a football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in the official colors of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.The NFL's global expansion plans create new challenges for teams like the 49ers, whose coach Kyle Shanahan has criticized the long travel required for international games.San Francisco Today

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded to San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's criticism of the team having to travel to Melbourne, Australia for a Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Goodell said coaches are focused on winning, not travel, and offered to provide Shanahan with an app to help adjust to the time change.

Why it matters

The 49ers-Rams matchup in Australia is part of the NFL's continued global expansion, with a record nine international games scheduled for 2026. Shanahan's comments highlighted the challenges teams face with long-distance travel, but Goodell is confident the league can make it a positive experience for the players.

The details

Goodell told reporters that he plans to send Shanahan an app that helped him adjust to the time change after arriving in Australia earlier this week. The commissioner said the league will work to make the international trip a 'great experience' for the 49ers. Out of the nine international games in 2026, the 49ers will play two - the Australia game against the Rams and a later matchup in Mexico City.

  • The 49ers will play the Rams in Melbourne, Australia in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
  • The 49ers will also travel to Mexico City later in the 2026 season for another international game.

The players

Roger Goodell

The commissioner of the National Football League (NFL).

Kyle Shanahan

The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Brock Purdy

The starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.

Christian McCaffrey

A running back for the San Francisco 49ers.

Mike Evans

A wide receiver recently added to the San Francisco 49ers roster.

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What they’re saying

“Coaches have a focus on winning, that's their number one job. Coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach and also someone who truly understands the importance of expanding our game globally. But his job is to win. I always like to say that coaches like to play at [1 p.m.] and [4 p.m.] and don't get in the way of that.”

— Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner

“We're going to make it a great experience for the team. That's one of the things we focus on.”

— Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.