Witness their reactions to the 49ers\u2019 2026 schedule, which will begin in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10 against the Rams, will include a trek to Mexico City in December and will feature more than 38,000 travel miles, an NFL record.<\/p>\n
On Monday, a day after Lynch discussed making the \u201cbest\u201d of the challenge, Shanahan did everything but roll his eyes when asked an open-ending question about playing Down Under in Week 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, (I\u2019m) so fired up,\u201d Shanahan said at the NFL owners\u2019 meetings. \u201cThat was our goal\u00a0\u2014 to go 19 hours away to play a game. So we\u2019re going back in time or into the future? I think we gain a day or lose a day? Not sure which one yet, but it is what it is. We\u2019ll deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 49ers will become the first team to play international games in different countries in non-consecutive weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s eight international games\u201d this season,\u00a0Shanahan said. \u201cWe got two of them. So we\u2019re fired up about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Any positives about playing the first NFL game in Australia, Kyle?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all. I don\u2019t see any pro,\u201d Shanahan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s cool for the league to play globally,\u201d he added. \u201cI think it\u2019s awesome. But as far as the team doing it? There\u2019s not much benefit to it. Sometimes it\u2019s nice to get a bye week after, but that doesn\u2019t happen in Week 1.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Lynch noted the 49ers planned to arrive in Australia just less than a week before the game, perhaps a few days before the Rams, to acclimate before kickoff. Lynch, who is on the NFL\u2019s competition committee, had previously suggested the league will give the 49ers extra rest after their two international games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a price to being a high-profile team with a lot of stars,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cThe league wants us on in prime time. They want to put us in situations. So what I\u2019ve learned\u00a0\u2014 you have to advocate. I certainly do for our guys. But at some point, these are the cards you\u2019re dealt. Let\u2019s make it the best we possibly can. And so we work constantly to come up with the best ideas to navigate that.\u201d<\/p>\n