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**Josh Higgins from Fox Sports**
August 10th, 2026 2:58 pm
Forget jet lag.
The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly planning one of the boldest travel strategies in NFL history for next month’s historic season opener in Melbourne, but head coach Sean McVay is refusing to publicly discuss the club’s approach as rivals San Francisco prepare to do the complete opposite.
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According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Rams intend to fly into Melbourne just one day before their Week 1 clash with the 49ers at the MCG before returning to Los Angeles immediately after the game to begin preparations for their Week 2 meeting with the New York Giants.
The plan comes after the Rams reportedly sent club representatives on the 16-hour journey from Los Angeles to Melbourne and straight back again to monitor the effects of jet lag.
The Rams and 49ers couldn't be preparing any differently for the MCG blockbuster.Source: FOX SPORTS
Their recommendation was for the team to complete its preparation at home before arriving in Australia as close to kickoff as possible, then immediately flying back to the United States following the game.
The strategy mirrors the Rams’ approach to last season’s international game in London, when they arrived on the morning of their clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars, secured the victory and departed straight after the final whistle.
However, while reports of the travel plans have emerged, McVay was unwilling to confirm them when repeatedly questioned by reporters during training camp.
“Yeah, but I’d rather just keep it in-house,” McVay said.
When asked why he did not want to discuss the itinerary, the Super Bowl-winning coach replied: “What’s the reason to talk about it? Honestly, I would respectfully just say we have, but I’d prefer not to talk about it.”
The LA Rams are reportedly planning a remarkable travel strategy for the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia... but Sean McVay isn't talking.Source: FOX SPORTS
A reporter then suggested fans would be interested in knowing how the Rams planned to tackle the logistical challenge of travelling to Australia.
“We won’t be there long enough for the fans to really have any curiosity about it,” McVay quipped.
Pressed again on whether the travel schedule was a strategic decision, McVay simply repeated: “Yeah, I’d rather not talk about it.”
While the Rams are expected to spend less than 24 hours in Australia, the San Francisco 49ers are taking a vastly different approach.
The 49ers are understood to be arriving in Melbourne around a week before the season opener, allowing players and coaches time to adjust to the 17-hour time difference and settle into their preparations ahead of the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia.
There is no proven blueprint for handling a trip of this magnitude, meaning the contrasting approaches will inevitably come under the spotlight once the result is known.
Should the Rams’ fly-in, fly-out strategy prove successful, it could shape how NFL teams approach future international fixtures. If it fails, the decision to minimise their time in Australia is likely to face heavy scrutiny.
The Rams and 49ers are taking completely different approaches to the NFL's historic Melbourne opener.Source: FOX SPORTS
One consequence of the Rams’ compact itinerary, however, is that it leaves little opportunity for players and coaches to participate in promotional events ahead of the landmark occasion, with much of that responsibility expected to fall on the 49ers during their extended stay.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will open the 2026 NFL season at the MCG on Friday, September 11 (AEST), in the first regular-season NFL game ever staged in Australia.