The NFL announced that the Indianapolis Colts will be the home team for the league's first-ever regular-season game in Berlin. This historic matchup, part of the 2025 International Games, will take place at the iconic Olympic Stadium as part of the NFL's multiyear commitment to hosting games in Germany.
Wir kommen zurück nach Deutschland!
Next season we are excited to host the NFL's first-ever regular season game in Berlin! ???????? pic.twitter.com/jIuRvqjUDK
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 15, 2025
Perusing through the San Francisco 49ers' scheduled opponents for the 2025 season, you will notice that head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad is slated to face the Colts on the road. While the NFL won't announce the exact dates and times for the team's games next season until May, there's a chance the 49ers could face the Colts for this landmark international game.
In addition to the 49ers, the Colts are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins next season.
It seems unlikely that the NFL would schedule a divisional matchup overseas, potentially ruling out the Jaguars, Texans, and Titans as potential Berlin opponents. That leaves five possibilities: the Broncos, Raiders, Cardinals, 49ers, and Dolphins.
Should the 49ers be chosen for this international showdown, the league might strategically schedule an East Coast road game for the 49ers leading up to the Berlin trip, minimizing the travel demands. Additionally, the 49ers' bye week could immediately follow the game to allow players time to recover from the long journey and time zone adjustment.
While the Colts' opponent for the overseas game remains uncertain, the possibility of playing in Berlin adds an intriguing layer—good or bad—to the 49ers' 2025 schedule.