Epic Journeys Ahead: Rams and 49ers to Break Travel Records in 2026 NFL Season

The NFL is rapidly expanding its reach, transforming into a worldwide powerhouse, and the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are about to experience the full extent of its ambitious expansion.

The unveiling of the NFL’s 2026 schedule last Thursday marked a groundbreaking moment, as the league announced an unprecedented travel itinerary.

This year, all 32 teams in the NFL will collectively journey a staggering 628,873 miles. This massive mileage is largely due to the inclusion of nine international games scattered around the world. For context, this distance is equivalent to circling the globe over 25 times.

Kicking off the 2026 season, the Rams and 49ers are set to face off at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.

The round-trip journey to Melbourne is an astounding 15,742 miles, propelling the 49ers to set a new NFL milestone with 38,105 miles traveled. The Rams trail closely, logging a total of 34,847 miles. Over the course of the season, both teams will traverse 54 time zones, underscoring the demanding travel schedule ahead.

Both teams also have tough schedules this season as well. Based on opponents winning percentage last season, the Rams have the 13th toughest schedule and the 49ers have the 18th. But that ranking doesn’t account for the physical and mental drain of travel. Both teams should be ranked No. 1 and No. 2 because of jet lag alone.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers will travel just 8,740 miles this season, four times less than the Rams and 49ers. Carolina will never venture further west than Minneapolis in 2026. 

That gap between the Rams/49ers and the Panthers seems almost absurd. One franchise got a regional bus route. The other two will go around the world in 80 days. 

Bill Speros of Bookies.com recently calculated all the miles traveled for all 32 NFL teams and the result is in the graphic below.

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