The San Francisco 49ers are no strangers to the injury report - and this season has been no exception. But now, there's a new twist in the conversation, and it's not coming from the training room. A conspiracy theory has been making the rounds online, suggesting that the team's injury woes could be linked to something far more unusual: an electrical substation located next to their practice facility in Santa Clara.
The theory picked up steam earlier this month when biophysics expert Peter Cowan posted on X, claiming that low-frequency electromagnetic fields - the kind emitted by power substations - can degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage, even at levels deemed “safe” by regulatory standards. Cowan’s post went viral, racking up over 22 million views and sparking a wave of speculation among fans and amateur sleuths alike.
As the 49ers prepare for their divisional round matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the theory got another boost when analyst Tristan Scott added fuel to the fire. He pointed out that the substation near Levi’s Stadium significantly increased its transmission capacity in 2014 - the same year the 49ers’ injury troubles began to mount.
According to Scott, the facility transformed from a small local plant into a full regional transmission hub, increasing its output by a staggering 2000%. In his words, “This is the detail that matters most in this story.”
Now, let’s be clear - while the timing is interesting, not everyone is buying the theory.
Veteran NFL injury analyst Aaron Schatz weighed in, offering a more grounded perspective. Yes, the 49ers have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries in recent years, but Schatz doesn’t see anything statistically shocking in the data.
“It’s not a huge outlier,” he said. “They led the league, but not by leaps and bounds.”
It’s worth noting that the 49ers' injury struggles have been well-documented over the past few seasons. From soft-tissue issues to major season-ending injuries, the team has consistently been among the most banged-up in the league. Just this past week, star tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles during San Francisco’s wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles - another brutal blow for a team trying to stay healthy deep into the postseason.
Injuries are part of the game - especially in a sport as physically demanding as football. But when a team consistently finds itself at the top of the injury charts, it’s natural for fans and analysts to start asking bigger questions. Whether it’s about training methods, turf conditions, or, in this case, electromagnetic fields, the search for answers continues.
For now, the 49ers are focused on the road ahead. But the conversation surrounding their injury history - and what might be behind it - isn’t going away anytime soon.