The National Football League’s expanded global schedule is set to make the San Francisco 49ers the most traveled team this season. According to the Get the Facts Data Team, the 49ers will cover at least 34,000 miles as they head to Melbourne, Australia for the season opener and later to Mexico City, Mexico for a Week 11 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
How the mileage is calculated
The data analysts used the geographic coordinates of the 38 stadiums hosting games this year and measured straight‑line distances between each venue. The figures represent the total distance a team would travel between stadiums, not the actual miles logged by planes or buses.
Other teams on the road
While the 49ers top the list, several other clubs face extensive travel. The Los Angeles Rams, despite ranking second in total miles, have the longest single leg of any schedule – a nearly 8,100‑mile trek from the Coliseum to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Dallas Cowboys follow with a long haul to Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium for a Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play back‑to‑back games in England during Weeks 6 and 7, yet their total mileage lands them in 10th place at roughly 19,200 miles. The Seattle Seahawks, who have no international games, still travel close to 19,800 miles due to the geographic spread of their domestic opponents.
Why the league is going global
This season marks a record nine international matchups, the most the NFL has ever scheduled in a single year. Sixteen teams will travel abroad to compete in cities across Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City. The league says the move is designed to grow the sport’s fan base and bring the excitement of American football to new audiences.
What fans can expect
Thursday night’s kickoff in Melbourne is slated for 8:35 p.m. EDT, giving West Coast viewers a prime‑time start. The game will be the first ever NFL contest held in Australia, a historic moment for both the league and the sport’s global outreach.
Beyond the novelty, the travel demands will test each team’s depth and preparation. Long flights, time‑zone changes and the physical toll of back‑to‑back games abroad could influence performance on the field. Teams with multiple overseas stops, like the 49ers, will need to manage rest and recovery carefully to stay competitive.
Looking ahead
As the season unfolds, the mileage totals will be updated, but the 49ers’ two‑game international slate already guarantees they will log the most miles of any franchise. Fans of the 49ers and other traveling teams can look forward to a season that blends high‑stakes football with the excitement of seeing the sport played on some of the world’s most iconic stages.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
