The San Francisco 49ers are facing one of the most grueling travel itineraries in professional sports history. Their upcoming season features a historic logistical challenge, beginning with an opening game in Australia and continuing with a Week 11 matchup in Mexico City. This scheduling makes the 49ers the first franchise in NFL history to compete in two different international games during non-consecutive weeks within a single campaign.
Initial projections following the NFL schedule release on May 14 suggested the 49ers would cover a record-breaking 38,105 miles. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has revealed a potential shift in the team’s travel strategy that could keep them out of the record books. By implementing a specific mid-season training camp, the team might significantly reduce their total time in the air.
Strategic Logistics: How a Colorado Detour Alters the 49ers’ Travel Distance
The Week 11 game in Mexico City presents a unique environmental hurdle: altitude. The Mexican capital sits at approximately 7,350 feet above sea level, significantly higher than Denver’s Mile High Stadium, which rests at 5,280 feet. To mitigate the physical toll of competing in thin air, the 49ers are planning to acclimate in the mountains before the game.
Shanahan noted that because Mexico City is roughly 2,000 feet higher than Denver, the team intends to repeat a successful past strategy by practicing in Colorado Springs. This would allow the players’ bodies to adjust to the elevation before they fly into Mexico City just before their game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Under this proposal, the 49ers would transition directly from their Week 10 road game against the Dallas Cowboys on November 15 to their training base in Colorado, rather than returning to California. While Shanahan mentioned the plan isn’t fully finalized, he indicated it is the most probable path for the organization.
Choosing to stay on the road offers a significant reduction in total mileage, though it means the team will not claim the NFL record for most miles traveled in a season. If the team were to return home to San Jose between every road trip, the travel for that two-week stretch would be considerably more taxing.
The Mileage Breakdown of a Standard Home-and-Away Return
If the 49ers followed a traditional schedule of returning to their home base after each game, the logistics would look like this:
- Week 10: San Jose to Dallas and back (2,876 miles).
- Week 11: San Jose to Mexico City and back (3,702 miles).
- Combined Two-Week Travel: 6,578 miles.
The Efficiency of the Stay-on-the-Road Approach
By opting for a training stint in Colorado Springs, the team creates a more efficient flight path:
- San Jose to Dallas (1,438 miles)
- Dallas to Colorado Springs (592 miles)
- Colorado Springs to Mexico City (1,376 miles)
- Mexico City to San Jose (1,851 miles)
- Total for the Trek: 5,257 miles
This “road warrior” strategy saves the team 1,321 miles of travel. This reduction brings their season-long total down from the projected 38,105 miles to 36,784 miles. Consequently, they would fall just short of the all-time NFL travel record set by the Los Angeles Chargers, who covered 37,086 miles last season. For the 49ers, the trade-off is clear: sacrificing a statistical record for better physical preparation and reduced fatigue during a critical stretch of the season.
Summary of the 49ers’ Travel Implications
While the San Francisco 49ers initially appeared destined to set a new NFL benchmark for travel, their prioritization of player health and altitude acclimation will likely keep the record in the hands of the Chargers. By utilizing Colorado Springs as a high-altitude training hub between games in Dallas and Mexico City, the 49ers are choosing competitive readiness over mileage milestones. This strategic move highlights the evolving nature of NFL sports science, where managing the rigors of an international schedule is just as important as the game plan on the field.
