Sean McVay sends message to NFL about Rams playing in future Australia games

Head coach Sean McVay and others associated with the Los Angeles Rams didn't hide throughout the summer that they weren't thrilled about having to open the 2026 season with a game held in Melbourne, Australia.

Coming off his team's 27-7 Week 1 loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers, McVay sent a strong message to the NFL about the Rams possibly participating in future Australia games while speaking with reporters on Thursday.

Sean McVay has this hope for Rams about future Australia games

"It’s almost like you try to do the 'Men in Black' thing where you say, 'Hey, I don’t remember what happened. That was so long ago,'" McVay explained, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope. Not because it wasn’t a great atmosphere. That’ll get taken out of context." 

Before the Week 1 contest got underway, a report revealed that the Rams "sent 15 staffers over the last two years" abroad and "tracked their bodies and sleep rhythms" to prepare for a game held in a foreign country such as Australia. The Rams then raised eyebrows when they arrived roughly 28 hours before the kickoff of their season opener, while the 49ers made their trip a week before the game to fully adjust to the time difference.

Following their win, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said that he felt the Rams "kinda withered away" as the game went on. Later, ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager said that the Rams "didn't look like they belonged on the same field as the 49ers" in Australia. 

A story from this week pointed out that the Rams "seemed to approach the Australia trip with the excitement of a teenager asked to take out the trash."  

Sean McVay discusses how Rams will bounce back in Week 2

What's done is done, and a Rams team that entered Australia as the heavy favorites to win Super Bowl LXI in February 2027 will next host the 1-0 New York Giants this coming Monday night. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Los Angeles as a seven-point betting favorite for that matchup. 

“Bottom line is, I like the way that I feel of our preparation, eyes moving forward, chest out, chin up, eyes forward, and let’s go be about it," McVay said about getting his team ready to face the Giants. "Let’s go prepare the right way. Let’s have great focus and concentration. Let’s have a great energy and an edge in which we prepare and compete with, and then let’s go be ready to go against a really damn good football team. What they looked like in Week 1, we got a great challenge ahead. That’s what every week is. We’re excited to compete. All we can do is really have a great day of preparation today."