One Super Bowl Favorite Got Completely Hosed By The NFL’s 2026 Schedule
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2026 season hoping to compete for a Super Bowl. However, the NFL gave them one of the league’s toughest schedules.
The 49ers released their schedule on Thursday, May 14, and several problems jumped out right away. San Francisco will travel 38,105 miles this season, the highest total in the NFL, according to Bill Speros. The team also faces two international games, including a Week 1 matchup in Melbourne, Australia.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan did not seem happy about having to start the season overseas. The 49ers will also face the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City during Week 11 before entering a very difficult final stretch of games.
NFL.com writer Eric Edholm even called San Francisco one of the biggest “losers” of the 2026 schedule release because of the heavy travel and tough late-season games.
Brutal Finish Could Test 49ers’ Super Bowl Chances
The 49ers may have a third-place schedule on paper, but the lineup offers very few easy wins. After the game in Mexico City, San Francisco faces a stretch that could shape the NFC playoff race.
“The post-Mexico schedule looks pretty rough: vs. Seahawks (Week 12), at Giants (Week 13), vs. Rams (Week 14), at Chargers (Thursday of Week 15), at Chiefs (Week 16) and home against the Eagles (Week 17), followed by a regular-season finale at Arizona,” Edholm wrote.
He also pointed to another difficult stretch earlier in the year after games against the Dolphins and Cardinals.
“Those are followed by a tough three games vs. Denver (Week 4), at Seattle (Week 5) and a home Monday-nighter against the Commanders (Week 6),” Edholm added.
I did a quick run through all the 49ers’ opponents and looks like only one has a bye the week before playing the 49ers.
The Seahawks have Week 11 off then play at the 49ers on Sunday Nov. 29.
The 49ers’ bye is Week 8 then they host the Raiders Sunday Nov. 8. https://t.co/JZAYC9y282
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 15, 2026
The NFL did give the San Francisco a few helpful breaks in the schedule. After returning from Australia, the team will play three straight home games, which should make the travel easier on players. The 49ers also received a Week 8 bye after having a very late Week 14 bye last season.
San Francisco hopes that staying healthier will help them handle the difficult schedule. Injuries caused major problems during the 2025 season. Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and George Kittle all suffered season-ending injuries. Rookie Mykel Williams also tore his ACL.
Despite those injuries, the 49ers still finished 12-5 and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round. Their season ended after a 41-6 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional round.
The front office stayed aggressive during the offseason. The 49ers gave contract extensions to Trent Williams, signed Mike Evans and Dre Greenlaw, and traded for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Now the team must show it can survive one of the NFL’s toughest schedules and still reach the playoffs.
