Goodell downplays Shanahan's Australia opener concerns
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed concerns raised by San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan about playing the season opener in Australia. The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne in Week 1 of the 2026 campaign. Goodell emphasized the game forms part of the league's long-term commitment to the market.
Shanahan expressed skepticism during the NFL owners meetings last month, stating he saw no benefit for the team despite appreciating the league's global expansion. He noted the 19- to 20-hour flight with a light-hearted comment that starting the season so far away was not ideal. Goodell, speaking to reporters in Australia on Friday, offered to send Shanahan a jet-lag app recommended by his wife, describing his own recent trip as straightforward with no fatigue.
Goodell described Shanahan as an enthusiastic coach whose primary focus remains winning games. He acknowledged coaches prefer early kickoffs but stressed the NFL's priority on delivering a strong experience for teams and fans alike. The commissioner assured that preparations would ensure competitiveness continues into Week 2.
Goodell made clear the Australia fixture marks an ongoing investment, not a one-time event. "There is no question that we are going to be playing here again," he said. "Our view is that we are coming here for the long term."
