49ers vs. Rams in Australia: Shanahan Confused by Time Zones, But Ready for Thursday Night Football

In a groundbreaking move for the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to clash in Melbourne, Australia, in what will be the league's first regular-season game Down Under. But the international travel has thrown even the most meticulous coaches into a time-zone tailspin, with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan openly admitting his confusion about what day it actually is. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk reports, the game is scheduled for Friday in Australia, which corresponds to Thursday night in the United States—a scheduling quirk that has Shanahan's internal clock spinning.

Speaking to reporters on Monday in Australia—which was Sunday in the US—Shanahan tried to explain his mental gymnastics: "We're a little confused with—when I look at my clock and it says a time and then I try to see my family's time and then it says the time, but it says yesterday. I don't even get how that's possible," he said with a chuckle. "So I feel like I'm in the future. And then also when we play on Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the US, we're such creatures of habit. So I call today Tuesday. No, wait, sorry, I call today Wednesday. Which is the first day we put in a game plan. But I think it's Monday. However, though, it's Sunday in the present. So, like I'm gonna mess that up all week if you guys ask me. But today is just our first day of the game plan, which is a Wednesday, and we'll put in some on a Thursday. Friday's the final part of the game plan. Saturday, we walk through and we play on Sunday, which is a Friday in Australia and a Thursday in the US. So, don't ever make me do that again."

Navigating the International Date Line

Shanahan's struggle is understandable. The 49ers flew over 16 hours to a place with a 17-hour time difference from the West Coast. To keep his team's rhythm, he's adhering to a schedule that mimics a typical home game week, treating the Australian Friday as if it were a Sunday back in the US. This means the team's internal calendar is perpetually out of sync with the local Australian day. "We're creatures of habit," Shanahan emphasized, noting that the coaching staff has worked hard to maintain normalcy despite the exotic locale. The Rams, who are still in Los Angeles, are operating on their usual schedule, and Shanahan is matching his team's injury report timing to theirs—a strategic move to avoid giving any competitive advantage.

"Because we're technically in the future, from where we're from, and the Rams are in the present, I don't have to talk about injuries until tomorrow," Shanahan joked on Monday, or was it Sunday? The coach, known for his sharp football mind, is clearly a little out of sorts, but he insists the travel hasn't affected his preparation. "It's taken a couple days to adjust but I'm feeling real good today," he said, though the day he referred to remains ambiguous.

This international clash is a testament to the NFL's global ambitions, but it also highlights the logistical challenges that come with playing across time zones. As Vulius Sports noted in our preview, the game will be a test of adaptability for both teams, especially for a coach like Shanahan who thrives on routine. The 49ers and Rams are set to kick off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with millions of American fans tuning in on Thursday night—while Australians watch on their Friday. For Shanahan, the hope is that by the time the ball is snapped, he'll at least know what day it is.