Goodell Defends Australia Opener After Shanahan Criticism

Phoenix — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday dismissed San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s misgivings about the league’s historic Week 1 game in Australia, insisting the league will protect competitive balance while continuing its global expansion.

Speaking at the Arizona Biltmore during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting, Goodell addressed Shanahan’s public frustration with the 49ers’ 18-hour haul to Melbourne for a Friday, Sept. 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 10:35 a.m. local kickoff—Thursday evening back in the Bay Area—will be the first regular-season game ever staged on Australian soil.

“Coaches have a focus on winning. That’s their number one job,” Goodell told reporters. “Coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach, but also someone who truly understands the importance of growing our game globally. His job is to win. His job is to play. We’ll make it a great experience for the team.”

Shanahan, who earlier in the week lamented the lack of built-in recovery time after the trans-Pacific flight, said he sees “no real upsides” beyond the league’s international marketing ambitions. Goodell countered that the NFL’s operations staff has managed similar challenges in Europe and will do so again, even offering a personal tip.

“I have not felt any jet lag at all,” Goodell said. “I thought it was a relatively easy trip. I can send him an app to help with jet lag.”

The commissioner emphasized that the game will count in full in the standings, leaving both West Coast clubs little margin for error in an NFC race that could come down to tie-breakers. Neither the 49ers nor the Rams have received confirmation of extra rest before Week 2, raising concerns that the loser of the Australia contest could carry both fatigue and an early-season loss into the remainder of the schedule.

Goodell, however, framed the trip as an investment in the sport’s future rather than a competitive handicap.

“When they go back, they go to make sure they can continue their competitiveness because this game is real. This counts,” he said.

The league has not announced travel itineraries or recovery protocols for the two clubs, but senior officials reiterated that player-wellness metrics will guide the final plan.