The NFL's 2026 season promises to be a travel extravaganza, with teams embarking on epic journeys across the globe. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to lead the charge, logging an impressive 38,105 and 34,847 air miles respectively. This is largely due to their high-profile international fixture: a Week 1 showdown in Melbourne, Australia, against each other, marking a historic first for the league.
The 49ers' schedule also includes a challenging east-coast road trip to face the New York Giants and a second international game in Mexico City against the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams, meanwhile, have a demanding travel itinerary with trips to Philadelphia, Tampa, and Washington, D.C., adding to their overall mileage.
The top five teams with the most projected travel are rounded out by the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots, all of whom were playoff contenders in 2025. International games will significantly impact travel distances, with nine of them scheduled outside the U.S., including Australia, Mexico, England, Brazil, France, Germany, and Spain.
Several teams will benefit from relatively shorter travel distances, with the Carolina Panthers boasting the least travel at just 8,740 miles, followed by the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers. These teams will have an advantage over their counterparts, with fewer miles to cover.
The 2026 season's travel demands highlight the league's global reach and the challenges faced by teams in maintaining performance across vast distances. It also underscores the importance of international games in expanding the NFL's audience and creating unique, memorable experiences for fans worldwide.
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