Kyle Shanahan: "Not much benefit" to starting 2026 season with Australia game
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed sarcasm and a lack of enthusiasm about starting the 2026 NFL season with an away game in Melbourne, Australia.
- Shanahan highlighted the challenges of international travel, including significant time zone changes, and saw no clear benefits for the team playing the first regular-season game in Australia.
- He acknowledged the NFL's goal of expanding the league globally but emphasized that teams have little input on international scheduling and must simply accept the assignments.
- The 49ers will also play a home game in Mexico City later in the 2026 season, likely in December.
- Shanahan noted that teams usually do not get a bye week after international games, especially not after a Week 1 game, which adds to the difficulty.
