The NFL isn't doing the San Francisco 49ers any favors in 2026. With two international games on the schedule, the 49ers are projected to log a historic amount of travel — potentially setting the record for most miles traveled by a team in a single NFL season.

San Francisco is set to face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, likely in Week 1. The 49ers will also host a game in Mexico City, currently projected for Week 13 or 14. Those matchups alone significantly increase the team's travel demands.


In total, the 49ers are expected to travel more than 38,100 miles during the 2026 season. That would easily surpass the previous record of approximately 37,000 miles, set by the 2015 Los Angeles Chargers and the 2016 Los Angeles Rams.

While acknowledging the challenges of a grueling schedule, general manager John Lynch views the two international games as an honor. It means his team features players who can help draw attention during these high-profile matchups.

Still, the travel burden is real. In a conversation with NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Lynch revealed that the NFL has assured the 49ers it will provide scheduling relief on the back end of the 2026 slate to help offset the strain.

"We've talked with the league, and the league has assured us they'll give us the grace in the back end," Lynch said. "Things that we're not going to go into, but in terms of scheduling, to help ease that burden."

Now, the focus shifts to finding ways to reduce the burden on players and ensure a healthier season than last year's injury-plagued campaign.


"We'll embrace it, make the most of it," Lynch added. "We'll be smart about the way we approach it."

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