Well, this is petty.
The reason the San Francisco 49ers have to go to Australia in Week 1 is thanks to the Los Angeles Rams. Kyle Shanahan revealed on Pro Football Talk with Chris Simms and Mike Florio that the Rams lobbied to play the 49ers in Australia.
“I know for a fact they did, that’s why it’s so bothersome,” said Shanahan. “Hopefully, the league will do right and let us play the Rams in Mexico since we got to go out of the country twice and they requested us. I’m requesting them in Mexico. Not that it gives us an advantage, it’s just fair to make them go out of the country twice, too.”
49ers have every right to be upset
Spicy! #49ers HC Kyle Shanahan says he knows for a fact the #Rams lobbied to play them in Australia because 49ers fans take over SoFi Stadium.
Shanahan wants the NFL, in return, to send the Rams to Mexico later in the year when the 49ers have a game there.
“I’m requesting them… pic.twitter.com/RCxPQYWdAl
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 31, 2026
The Rams are hilarious for that. They lobbied to play the 49ers in Australia to avoid giving the 49ers an extra home game when they host them. It’s as petty as it gets.
Ever since the Rams moved to Los Angeles, they have not had a home-field advantage against the 49ers. Whether that was at the Coliseum or at So-Fi Stadium.
The 49ers take over the Rams’ stadium and turn it into their own home game, forcing the Rams to a silent cadence. It makes sense for the Rams to be fed up and sacrifice traveling far away to burn the 49ers.
And if you’re the 49ers, you have every right to be upset. The Rams are extremely petty for that, and now the 49ers have to prepare for an insanely long trip that will take a ton of preparation.
I think the funniest part of this is that the Rams are shooting themselves in the foot as well. If the 49ers are annoyed with having to travel far, aren’t they as well?
Even if they aren’t and they feel satisfied knowing they agitated the 49ers, they still have to face the same struggles as the 49ers with traveling incredibly far.
The week or two before they play in Week 1 will be catered to that game, and so will Week 2 when they return. They will all be jet-lagged from the flight and playing in an 18-hour time zone difference.
It’s not really the smartest move by the Rams, but maybe they don’t care. Maybe knowing Shanahan and the 49ers are angry about this is all they care about.
Mission accomplished if that’s the case.
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