The Seahawks and Patriots are headed to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 60, but they won’t be spending much time in Santa Clara before the big game. While the stadium itself will host the NFL’s crown jewel, both teams have opted to prep elsewhere - and it’s not because of the social media buzz surrounding the 49ers’ injury woes.
Let’s unpack what’s going on.
Over the past few seasons, the San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard by injuries - and 2025 was no exception. The volume and frequency of those injuries have sparked plenty of concern, and recently, a new theory made waves online.
It centers around an electrical substation near the Niners’ practice facility and Levi’s Stadium. The idea?
That electromagnetic fields from the substation might be contributing to the team’s injury issues.
It sounds like something pulled from a sci-fi script, but it’s gained enough traction that 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed it publicly. Speaking to reporters, Lynch emphasized that while the theory may sound far-fetched, the organization isn't brushing it off.
“Because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything,” Lynch said. “Our guys have been, we’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone to see does a study exist rather than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath the fence and coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means.
That’s what we know exists; we’ve heard that debunked, so yes, we will look into it. The health and safety of our players is of the utmost priority; we pour into it.”
Lynch’s comments reflect a front office that’s trying to leave no stone unturned - even if the science behind the theory is questionable at best. When you’re dealing with a team that’s lost key players year after year, it makes sense to explore every possible factor, no matter how unconventional.
But here’s where things get interesting: despite the timing, the Seahawks and Patriots’ decision to avoid the 49ers’ facility isn’t a reaction to this theory. According to reports, the NFL had already arranged for both teams to practice at alternate locations - Stanford University for one team, and San Jose State for the other. These plans were set well in advance, long before the theory started gaining traction online.
So no, this isn’t some last-minute pivot fueled by internet chatter. It’s standard Super Bowl protocol in action. The NFL typically lines up multiple practice sites in the host region to accommodate both conference champions, and this year is no different.
Still, the optics are hard to ignore. With the 49ers’ injury situation under the microscope and a conspiracy theory swirling around their home base, the fact that two Super Bowl-bound teams are steering clear of the facility adds another layer to the narrative - even if it's purely coincidental.
For now, all eyes turn to Super Bowl 60. The Seahawks and Patriots have made it to the sport’s biggest stage, and both teams are doing everything they can to stay healthy and focused ahead of kickoff. The hope, of course, is that the game plays out without the kind of injuries that have haunted the 49ers in recent years.
As for the substation theory? Time will tell if it’s anything more than online noise. But in a league where player health is everything, it’s no surprise the 49ers are at least willing to ask the question.