“Feel Like I’m in the Future” – Kyle Shanahan Uses Australian Time Zone to Dodge 49ers Injury Question

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan jokes about playing in a very different time zone.

“Feel Like I’m in the Future” – Kyle Shanahan Uses Australian Time Zone to Dodge 49ers Injury Question

Kyle Shanahan (Image via IMAGO)

Kyle Shanahan put on his joker’s hat when addressing the challenges the San Francisco 49ers face, including the time zone differences between America and Australia as they prepare to take on the Los Angeles Rams on opening day of the 2026 NFL season at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Niners arrived in Melbourne a week before the fixture to acclimatize to the local weather and time zone, and connect with the fans.

Shanahan claimed that keeping track of the different time zones has been a bit challenging for him.

We’re a little confused with when I look at my clock and it says the time, and then I try to ​see my family’s time, and it says the time, but it says yesterday. I don’t get how that’s possible. So, I feel like I’m in the future.

Kyle Shanahan said via 49ers on NBCS

The Niners boarded the Qantas flight from California and landed in Melbourne on September 4. The journey took nearly 15 hours. The East is ahead of Western time zones; it was still Thursday back in the USA. It’s all a bit confusing for Shanahan and the Niners players.

When ⁠[the Niners] play on our Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the U.S., we’re such creatures of habit. So, I call today Tuesday. ​No, wait, sorry, I call today Wednesday, which is the first day we put in the game plan. But I think it’s ​Monday. However, it’s Sunday in the present, so like I’m going to mess that up all week if you guys ask me.

Shanahan said as the entire room burst out laughing
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Kyle Shanahan’s team have some advantage over the Rams

According to reports, the LA Rams specifically requested to play the Niners in Australia’s first-ever regular-season NFL game. The Rams are the home team in the fixture, so essentially they will have one less game at SoFi Stadium.

We're Technically in the Future - Kyle Shanahan Uses Australian Time Zone to Dodge 49ers Injury Question
Kyle Shanahan (Image via IMAGO)

Experts argue the Rams planned this to avoid a Niners fan takeover. Since the stadium’s opening in 2020, Niners fans have always outnumbered Rams fans. That’s because the Rams moved to LA in 2016. Before that, they were based in St. Louis, Missouri. For over 50 years, the Rams built a strong connection with St. Louis locals. They have yet to achieve a similar success with the LA crowd.

LA already has several big franchises in different sports: the LA Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, and the college teams USC, UCLA, Cal, Fresno State, and so on. More importantly, LA also houses a second NFL team, the LA Chargers. So, the fans are spoiled for choice.

It was a great plan to host the game elsewhere, but the Rams may have shot themselves in the foot. Unlike the 49ers, they have decided to take the trip to land down under hours before kickoff. Dr. Jamie Zeitzer explained the genius behind this approach to Front Office Sports.

The main thing that you want to do is avoid light during the nighttime in California. So whenever it’s night in California, you want to avoid light when you’re in Australia if you want to stay on California time… Have blackout shades in the room and they can have their meetings in darkened ballrooms if necessary and have private chefs cooking for them breakfast, lunch, and dinner when they’re expecting to have it in California, not necessarily the time in Australia.

Dr. Jamie Zeitzer said

But the downside is that players could feel the effects of the long flight. Moreover, the Rams will be at a bigger disadvantage if fans don’t show up wearing blue jerseys. Shanahan is confident that Niners fans will turn out in numbers on Sep. 10.

Which 49ers could miss the week one opener in Australia?

All the key players on the 49ers’ first team have traveled to Australia, including George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams, all four missed game time last year due to injuries. While Fred Warner and Trent Williams are expected to start in week one, there’s concern surrounding the availability of Kittle and Bosa.

Bosa suffered an ACL injury and missed a chunk of the 2025 season. Kittle only made 11 appearances and missed the playoffs due to a torn Achilles. Per the Mercury News, Nick Bosa was not seen during the media’s 30-minute window during warmups. Kittle believes he can make it, but won’t know until a few hours before kickoff.

Fans can watch Australia’s first NFL game on Netflix.

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