Roger Goodell weighs in on Shanahan's travel gripes, offering a dose of humor and a commitment to global expansion as the 49ers prepare for their historic Melbourne clash.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't mince words when discussing his team's upcoming Week 1 game in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaking recently from the NFL meetings, Shanahan made his frustration clear regarding the logistics of the 17 hour flight and the massive distance from home. "Oh, so fired up," Shanahan said in a characteristically sarcastic tone. "That was our goal: to go 19 hours away to play a game... I don't see any pro [for the team]. 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 it doesn't happen in Week 1."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell heard the remarks loud and clear. During a press conference in Melbourne this Friday, April 10, Goodell offered a diplomatic response to the 49ers' coach.
"Coaches have a focus on winning. That's their No. 1 job," Goodell said. "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 noted that the league is dedicated to making the trip a positive experience for both the 49ers and the Rams. He even joked that he had a personal remedy for Shanahan’s travel woes. "I have an app for him [for jet lag], 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 joked. "I have not felt any jet lag at all."
The Logistics of "Down Under"
The matchup is truly a unique entry in the 2026 NFL slate. Because of the 17 hour time difference, the timing is a bit of a head scratcher for fans back in the States:
- US Broadcast: Thursday, September 10, at 5:35 p.m. PT / 8:35 p.m. ET.
- Melbourne Local Time: Friday, September 11, at 10:35 a.m. AEST.
- Venue: The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which holds 100,000 fans.
The game is a massive step in the NFL's push for global expansion, with Goodell suggesting on Friday that Australia could become a long term fixture for the league, potentially returning as soon as 2027.
However, for Shanahan, the focus remains on the immediate fallout. "When they go back, they've got to make sure they're able to continue the competitiveness, because this game is real. This counts," Goodell added. "And they'll go on to Week 2 as soon as they leave here."
With the 49ers set to lead the league in travel miles this year, projected to exceed 38,100 miles, the Melbourne opener is the ultimate stress test for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.