49ers schedule: Bears on the road Week 1, Seahawks for home opener

The 49ers schedule is official, at least for the first two weeks of the 2022 season, as the Niners visit the Bears in Week 1 before returning home against the Seahawks in Week 2.

The full San Francisco 49ers schedule for the upcoming 2022 season isn’t quite official yet, but we’ve been keeping close track of all the latest leaks and reports surrounding when the Niners will face their slate of opponents.

Of course, we’ve already known which teams San Francisco will play this season, just not officially when.

The NFL will release the full 18-week schedule, plus the preseason, on Thursday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET. But teams have already officially started leaking some of the games they’ll play.

The 49ers schedule has two new official releases, Weeks 1 and 2, as announced on the team’s website.

49ers schedule: Niners visit the Bears in Week 1

The Niners have historically asked for road games early in the season, likely to get away from the late-summer heat in Santa Clara County and at Levi’s Stadium, particularly the eastern side of the field.

So it’s no surprise the first team-reported schedule leak was for Week 1, and it’ll feature a road contest against quarterback Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, Sept. 11.

This will mark the second time in as many years San Francisco paid a visit to Chicago, defeating Fields and the Bears 33-22 in Week 8.

Hopefully, the 49ers won’t have to worry too much about those fortunes reversing this time around.

49ers schedule: Niners 2022 home opener will be in Week 2 vs. Seahawks

Some early rumors and reports suggested the 49ers schedule would kick off with three consecutive road games, yet those were quickly squashed with the team officially announcing its 2022 home opener would be in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks:

Fans eager to get back into Levi’s Stadium for a regular-season game can look to claim their tickets for Sunday, Sept. 18 when the Niners host their longtime NFC West rivals, albeit minus quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, as the Hawks look to usher in a completely new era.

The previous era, which nevertheless came crashing down for Seattle last season, still saw Wilson and the Seahawks go a perfect 2-0 against San Francisco in 2021, including the 49ers suffering a 28-21 home loss in Week 4.

Perhaps with Wilson gone, the Niners can reverse those fortunes.

49ers schedule also includes Week 11 trip to Mexico City vs. Cardinals

While we’ve known this for some time now, San Francisco will take part in the NFL International Series this season by engaging in a “road game” against the Arizona Cardinals at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico in Week 11 for Monday Night Football on Nov. 21.

In a way, this benefits the 49ers as it’ll cut into one of their eight road games this season and turn it into a neutral site.

Additionally, with the league expanding to 17 regular-season games and San Francisco having played the extra game on the road versus the Cincinnati Bengals last year, head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. will enjoy nine games at Levi’s Stadium this year.

The 49ers’ full 2022 NFL schedule will be officially announced tonight at 8 p.m. ET.