NFL News: Roger Goodell dismisses Kyle Shanahan’s concerns about Australia opener
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s concerns about playing in Australia in Week 1.
The 49ers are playing their first game of the 2026 season in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams, and Shanahan told reporters during the league’s owners’ meetings last month that he doesn’t see a benefit to it.
Shanahan jokingly said it was his goal to play a game 19 to 20 hours before the start of the season.
Goodell said he would send Shanahan an exercise program to help with jet lag.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Feb. 8, 2026. (Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
“You know I have his app, which I’m going to send him because my wife put me in touch with the app. And I’ve got to tell you, I feel great. I didn’t feel any jet lag at all. I thought it was a relatively easy trip,” Goodell told reporters in Australia on Friday.
Goodell called Shanahan a passionate coach and pointed out that coaches’ priorities lie in winning football games. He said the NFL is focused on creating a great experience for everyone.
“Coaches focus on winning, that’s their No. 1 job. So Coach Shanahan is passionate and he’s a great football coach but also someone who really understands the importance of expanding our game around the world. But his job is to win, his job is to play, and I always like to say that coaches like to play 1 and 4 and not get in the way of that,” Goodell said.
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. (Chris O’Meara/AP)
“We’re going to make it a great experience for the team. That’s one of the things that we’re focused on, everyone here and a lot of others are focused on, and make it a great experience for everyone, including the team. When they go back, they have to make sure they can continue to compete because this game is real, this is important, and they’re going to go to Week 2 as soon as they get out of here.”
Goodell also clarified that the 49ers-Rams game in Australia is not a one-off event but a starting point for investing in the market.
“There is no doubt that we will play here again. Our idea is that we are coming here for a long time. We do not come as one place. This is not a circus. This is an investment in this market, and we believe that this is long-term and will be good for the NFL for a long time,” said Goodell.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attends the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl game between the AFC and the NFC at Moscone Center South in San Francisco Feb. 3, 2026. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Shanahan and the 31 other head coaches in the NFL may not like the idea of playing a game that requires a 19- to 20-hour flight, but they have little say in the matter. While Shanahan may not see a “pro” going overseas, he thinks it’s good to see the NFL around the world.
“I don’t see any experts,” Shanahan said. “It’s great for the league to play internationally. I think that’s great. But as far as the team doing it, no, there’s not much to gain from it. Sometimes it’s good to get a bye week after that, but it doesn’t happen in Week 1.”
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