‘Let’s go’: Robert Irwin confirms blockbuster NFL news for Australia while live on air in the US

Robert Irwin casually dropped Australia’s biggest NFL story of all time while holding a snake on a major American show.

The international star revealed the LA Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers in the first regular season game Down Under.

The clash between the fierce NFC West rivals is a huge win for Australian NFL fans, with the MCG to play host to the landmark event.

The date and time of the clash will be released later in the year, with the NFL announcing a record nine international matches across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.

Irwin was on the Pat McAfee Show to drop the news.

“Mate, I would be honoured,” he told the former NFL punter when asked to reveal who would be playing in Melbourne.

“The NFL is coming Down Under, it’s coming to Melbourne. Now we know that the Rams are playing, but what we don’t know is who their opponent will be.

“I can say, for the first time, they are going to be going up against – well we’re here in San Francisco – so it can only be the 49ers.

“Let’s go!”

The Rams are one of four teams that hold international marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand as part of the NFL’s global markets program, with this year’s game to amplify one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

Sydney hosted an exhibition game in 1999, while a few college football matches have also been played in Australia.

But nothing will compare to what’s heading here next season with more than 90,000 fans expected to pack out the MCG which will look very different in a few months.

“As we continue our preparations for the NFL’s first-ever regular season game at the MCG in Melbourne, we are delighted that the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Los Angeles Rams,” NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager Charlotte Offord said.

“The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under.”

The Rams narrowly missed out on a spot in next Monday’s Super Bowl after they lost to the Seahawks in an epic NFC Championship game, while the 49ers are one of the most popular teams in the world.

Puka Nacua and Christian McCaffrey will be the headline acts, with London, Madrid, Mexico City, Munich, Paris and Rio de Janeiro to also host game sin 2026.

“As we make history with the NFL and bring the first regular season game to Australia, we are pleased to take our annual match-up against our NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers to the MCG,” Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff said.

“Since we first secured marketing rights to the country in 2021 and more recently since the announcement of this game last year, we have seen tremendous excitement for our team from fans both in Australia and also across the world.

“We look forward to spending this off-season continuing to deepen our connection with the Melbourne community leading up to the game this fall.“