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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 13: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers boards the plane for the game against the Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco International Airport on September 13, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we figure out what shakes out for the 2026 San Francisco 49ers’ schedule, the number of air miles has been tallied up. No one should be surprised that the 49ers are first, and the Los Angeles Rams are second, with 38,105 and 34,847 miles, respectively, given their Australia trip and their location on the continent.
What is surprising is the margin of the third team onwards. No. 3 is the Houston Texans at 28,470 miles. Nearly 10,000 miles less than the 49ers.
Most West Coast teams are slapped with more air miles. The 49ers are known for having some pretty long travel, which is why they will often stay somewhere if there’s a slate of road games rather than come back across the country.
It can’t be helped that the 49ers have to travel—just the nature of the beast. What could be helped is the international games they make the 49ers play. The 49ers have that aforementioned away game in Australia with the Rams, but they also have a game in Mexico. A “home” game, mind you. So there are two games they have to go out of the country for, one of which, for all intents and purposes, should be in Santa Clara.
None of this would be bothering (even a home game) if there were just a one-off per season. The fact that the NFL is asking teams that have more air miles before hitting them with two international games is where things get a bit strange.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks travel only 22,056 miles, ranking 10th. The Arizona Cardinals are further back at 23 with 15,646 miles. Take from that what you will. I bring that up just to highlight how much of a competitive advantage the miles can give to other teams in the division. Especially one of those teams that won the Super Bowl.
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