Kyle Shanahan is used to game-planning for Sundays, but this week, the San Francisco 49ers head coach is just trying to figure out what day it is. With the team's season opener against the Rams set for Thursday night in the U.S. — which is actually Friday morning in Melbourne, Australia — Shanahan admitted he's been left scratching his head over the time zone puzzle.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend (or was it Monday? Even he isn't sure), Shanahan revealed the confusion that's been plaguing him since the Niners touched down Down Under. '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, per a video shared by 49ers on NBCS. 'So I feel like I'm in the future.'
The 16-hour flight from the Bay Area to the Melbourne Cricket Ground is enough to mess with anyone's internal clock, but Shanahan's schedule is particularly tricky. The team is trying to maintain a normal routine, which means treating the game as if it's a Sunday — even though it's actually Friday in Australia and Thursday back home. 'We're such creatures of habit,' Shanahan explained. '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.'
For a coach known for his meticulous preparation, this kind of disorientation is rare. But Shanahan isn't losing sleep over it — at least not yet. He walked through the week's plan with his characteristic dry humor: '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.'
The time zone tangle is just the latest twist in what's already been a chaotic offseason for Shanahan. He recently made headlines after being involved in a car crash that left him with injuries, though he's since recovered enough to return to the sideline. The team has also been navigating a quarterback competition that's drawn plenty of speculation, and now they're opening the season on the other side of the world.
Despite the logistical headache, Shanahan insists his squad is ready to play. He said the long flight hasn't left the team feeling sluggish, and they're prepared to take the field for the historic matchup, which will be streamed live on Netflix. 'We'll be ready to go,' he said, even if he's not entirely sure what day 'go' actually falls on.
The 49ers are hoping to start the season on a high note, but Shanahan's time zone struggles might be a sign of bigger challenges ahead. For now, fans can only hope their coach finds his footing before kickoff — and maybe a calendar that makes sense.
