With the 2026 NFL schedule set to be released on Thursday, teasers for next season are already surfacing, with the San Francisco 49ers drawing attention. The schedule release plays a key role in teams’ ability to prepare for the new campaign, and, as usual, some will have it harder than others.
49ers Lead Conversations About 2026 NFL Schedule, With 38,000 Travel Miles
The distance teams travel over the course of a season plays a crucial role in player conditioning. It determines jet lag, fatigue, and other key performance factors.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted the full ranking of which teams will travel the farthest next season.
“Air miles each team will travel this season,” he wrote.
Air miles each team will travel this season, via @billsperos: pic.twitter.com/oxd4dja4tD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2026
Fans were quick to notice the 49ers leading the pack with 38,105 miles.
“The NFL to the 49ers, ‘Fu** your 2026 season,'” journalist Brandon Perna tweeted.
“I don’t think people understand the toll that long trips take on the players body,” T.J. Lang wrote. “30,000 mile difference from first to last seems insane.”
“Man the NFL hates the 49ers!” “49ers Rush” host John Chapman posted.
The Niners and the LA Rams lead the pack with their 30,000+ mile tours due to playing in Melbourne, Australia, this year. The NFC West rivalry is scheduled to be played down under in the league’s first-ever showdown in the country. It’ll be only the second nation in the southern hemisphere, after Brazil, to host an NFL game.
“The #Panthers have one of the toughest strength of schedules this season on paper… But travel-wise, they have the easiest,” analyst Edgar Salmingo tweeted.
“Rams trip to Melbourne and back: 15,842 miles. Panthers projected miles this season: 8,740 miles,” Sports Illustrated’s Blaine Grisak wrote.
Debates are stirring around the fairness of the teams’ travel itinerary, as the Rams and 49ers’ trip to Australia alone almost matches the season total of the Carolina Panthers.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will defend their title in 2026, having one of the top 10 longest traveling distances, excluding the playoffs. Their offense recorded a 79.8 PFSN Offense Impact rating last season.
“Next we need air miles of every NFL broadcast crew to see who traveled the furthest,” Super Bowl winner Jason McCourty posted.
“Are the Dolphins and California-based teams always going to be at a disadvantage regarding this? Thoughts,” journalist Omar Kelly tweeted.
Given how isolated California-based teams are from the rest of the teams, which are largely located in the Northeast, there’s an argument to be made that they’re bound to travel farther on average each season.
How some of the NFL’s best teams fare with long trips this season will be interesting to see.
