Kyle Shanahan defends Sean McVay’s blunder on 49ers-Rams opening season in Australia

Sean McVay said he hoped the Rams wouldn’t have to play in Australia ever again. His comments immediately went viral because of the team’s decision to fly into Melbourne late and the 27-7 beatdown handed to the Super Bowl favorites…

Published: Saturday, 19 September 2026 at 2:40 AM
Kyle Shanahan defends Sean McVay’s blunder on 49ers-Rams opening season in Australia
Key Things to Know
  • San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan defended Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay's comments about playing in Australia.
  • The 49ers defeated the Rams 27-7 in Melbourne to open the 2026 NFL season.
  • McVay expressed hope that the Rams would not have to play in Australia again following the loss.
The Story in 60 Seconds

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has defended Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay following McVay's controversial comments about playing in Australia. McVay stated he hoped the Rams would never have to play in Australia again after his team arrived late in Melbourne and suffered a 27-7 defeat to the 49ers in their 2026 season opener.

Shanahan explained that the extensive travel required for international games makes preparation significantly harder for NFL teams. While acknowledging the league's business push to expand the sport globally, Shanahan emphasized that coaches and players heavily rely on their weekly routines to prepare for games.

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