San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is a fan favorite. Known for his loud personality and unmatched fun on the field, he is truly a unique character.
This week, however, he gave fans an inside look on his more serious side when he expressed his distaste for the opening matchup of the Niners' schedule, in which they have to travel to Australia to play the Los Angeles Rams.
"Flying 15 hours to go somewhere else and be in a completely different time zone doesn't really make a lot of sense for the health of players," the veteran said.
Unfortunately for all of the players involved in the trip, he is right.
International games are hardly a new trend for the NFL; however, the sheer number of them has gradually increased. Last season, a record nine international games were played, and this year, it will increase to 10.
It's easy to see the appeal. Largely an American sport, the idea of spreading the football craze to every corner of the globe is enticing for the league and its fans. But it seems as if the player's voices have become the inadvertent casualty of the ordeal.
49ers season-opener in Australia is more entertaining than smart
Kittle's concerns are legitimate, and they are a reiteration of what coach Kyle Shanahan has previously stated. On top of having to deal with poor facilities and subpar playing surfaces, the travel in and of itself is not something to be pushed onto athletes who already put their bodies on the line every weekend.
As much as commissioner Roger Goodell wants to see the game of football spread all over the world, it might be time he asks the million-dollar question: at what cost is it being done?
Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers played the league's first international game of 2025, when they traveled to Brazil. Both teams ended up suffering crippling injuries over the course of the season. The Charges' offensive line was decimated within weeks, and the Chiefs had their worst season in years, and they lost their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, to a torn ACL later in the season.
Kittle is just the latest player to stand up for his health in what feels like a losing battle. Especially given the fact that the Niners have often been one of the most injury-prone teams in the league, the matchup doesn't bode well for their season, especially with how may aging veterans they are relying upon to produce.
It's definitely hard not to feel for the tight end, who is still recovering from a torn Achilles and may have to play 15 hours away from home in his first game back.
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