Roger Goodell dismisses 49ers coach's concerns about playing in Australia, says it's part of long-term plan

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed concerns that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had 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 he did not see any benefit to it. 

Shanahan jokingly said it was his goal to play a game 19 to 20 hours away to start the season.

Goodell said he will send Shanahan an app that will help with jet lag.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and 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 an app for him, which I’m going to send to him because my wife hooked me up with an app. And I got to tell you, I feel great. I have not felt any jet lag at all. I thought it was a relatively easy trip," Goodell told reporters in Australia Friday.

Goodell called Shanahan an enthusiastic coach and mentioned that coaches' priorities solely lie with winning football games. He said the NFL is focused on making it a great experience for everyone.

"Coaches have a focus on winning, that’s their No. 1 job. And so Coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach but also someone who truly understands the importance of expanding our game globally. But his job is to win, his job is to play, and I always like to say coaches like to play at 1 and 4 and don’t get in the way of that," Goodell said.

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