2026 NFL schedule: Execs discuss weekday openers, 49ers' travel, prime-time shutouts, rest disparity

Key Points:

• The NFL has moved its Week 1 opener to a Wednesday for the second time ever due to Labor Day's late date and an international game in Australia, with plans to continue weekday night starts in future seasons under a new Netflix deal through 2029.
• The 2026 season will start on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with a game on NBC followed by a Netflix game on Thursday in the U.S., which will be Friday morning in Australia, reflecting the league's push for multiple weekday night games.
• San Francisco and Los Angeles Rams face heavy travel this season, with the 49ers expected to travel about 38,000 miles due to their Australia opener and a Mexico City game, prompting the NFL to schedule consecutive home games afterward to ease their burden.
• Five NFL teams—Tennessee, Miami, Arizona, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets—received no prime-time games in the initial 2024 schedule, marking the first time since 2011 that five teams have no such appearances, largely reflecting their low Super Bowl odds.
• Despite concerns about rest disparities between teams, NFL officials maintain that data shows no competitive advantage from extra rest, although some teams like the Chargers face significant rest disadvantages this season.