What happened: A Bookies.com projection ranking all NFL teams by miles traveled in the 2026 season lists the San Francisco 49ers at the top. The same analysis flags a heavily traveled slate that includes an international 'home' game in Brazil against Baltimore, with that single trip accounting for an estimated 10,467 round-trip miles.
Why it matters: Travel load is a recognized factor in scheduling, recovery, and body-clock disruption across a 17-game season, and leading the league in air miles adds a logistical burden on top of the on-field schedule. The Brazil game underscores the NFL's continued push to stage regular-season contests abroad, which concentrates long-haul travel into specific windows.
By the numbers: The projection cites a single-team total of roughly 27,980 miles for one of the most-traveled clubs (fourth-most), driven largely by the São Paulo, Brazil game versus Baltimore at an estimated 10,467 round-trip miles. The 49ers are listed first overall in the league-wide ranking.
What to watch: Watch for the official 2026 NFL schedule release to confirm matchups, international-game assignments, and bye-week placement, which will determine how clustered each team's long-haul travel becomes.
Sources
- r/cowboys