49ers Address Injury Concerns and Substation Theories After Grueling Season
SANTA CLARA - The 49ers wrapped up their season with a press conference that touched on everything from roster moves to, yes, even electromagnetic waves. With a year defined as much by who wasn’t on the field as who was, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan finally faced questions about the elephant - or rather, the substation - in the room.
Let’s get this out of the way: the 49ers have been hit hard by injuries. And when stars like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle, Brock Purdy, and Mykel Williams all miss significant time, fans, media, and even some players start looking for answers beyond just bad luck.
One theory that’s made the rounds? That the team’s proximity to a power substation near Levi’s Stadium is somehow contributing to the injury bug.
It’s been a hot topic on social media, even drawing commentary from current and former players. But when Lynch was asked about it, he handled it with the kind of measured skepticism you’d expect from a former All-Pro safety now running the front office.
“Our guys have been reaching out to anyone and everyone to see, does a study exist other than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath the fence and coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means,” Lynch said, managing to stay diplomatic while clearly not buying into the theory. “That’s what we know exists.
We’ve heard that debunked... I know a lot of games have been won at this facility since it opened.”
Shanahan, for his part, steered clear of the topic altogether. A shame, really - he’s got a sharp wit and a knack for subtle sarcasm that would’ve been entertaining here.
Let’s talk about the injuries themselves. Bosa’s ACL tear was his third - his first came back in high school.
Warner’s ankle injury was the kind of traumatic, hard-to-watch moment that reminds you just how brutal this sport can be. Kittle battled through a hamstring issue and later an Achilles problem, but still looked like his old self until the playoffs.
Purdy dealt with turf toe - not the worst we’ve seen, but enough to sideline a quarterback who relies on mobility and footwork. And rookie Mykel Williams?
Another ACL, another key contributor lost.
When that much star power is sidelined, it’s natural for people to look for patterns. Lynch acknowledged as much: “I think this year, probably because the star players that went down, there was a lot of attention given on that.”
But here’s the thing - not everyone was sidelined. Christian McCaffrey, at 29, took on a staggering 413 touches between rushes and receptions - the most by a 49ers running back in franchise history - and kept chugging.
Colton McKivitz and Dominick Puni barely missed a snap. And Trent Williams?
At 37 years old and 320 pounds, he pulled a hamstring while chasing down a pick-six in Week 17 - and still made it back two weeks later.
Injuries are part of the game. Always have been.
Always will be. And while every franchise wants to find ways to reduce them - better turf, smarter training, more recovery - the idea that electromagnetic fields are selectively targeting certain players while sparing others doesn’t hold up under much scrutiny.
Still, the theory gained traction. Former players like Taybor Pepper and Jon Feliciano chimed in online.
Locker room chatter picked it up. And just like that, it became part of the conversation.
To be clear: the 49ers have been in Santa Clara since 1988. Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014. And the NFL doesn’t seem too concerned about the substation - Levi’s is set to host Super Bowl LX, just as it did a decade ago.
What is worth talking about is how this narrative could impact free agency. Some have floated the idea that players might avoid signing with the 49ers because of injury concerns tied to the facility. But let’s be honest - that’s not how this works.
Players go where the money is. Period.
They sign with the teams that offer the best contracts, the most guaranteed money, and the clearest path to success. Concerns about a nearby power source don’t exactly move the needle when you’re talking about multimillion-dollar deals.
Want proof? Look at Barry Bonds.
He signed with the Giants in 1993, just a few years after the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked the Bay Area and raised serious concerns about the region’s safety. Did that stop him?
Not even close. Or take Stephen Curry - he didn’t hesitate to join the Warriors in 2009.
Earthquakes are real. Substation theories?
Not so much.
And if anything is going to make a free agent think twice about coming to California, it’s not electromagnetic fields - it’s taxes. States like Tennessee, Texas, Nevada, and Florida have no state income tax.
That’s a real factor. That’s money in your pocket.
And that’s what players - like any of us - care about.
So, while the substation chatter might make for an interesting sidebar, it’s not keeping McCaffrey from racking up touches or Trent Williams from chasing down defenders. It’s not stopping the 49ers from contending. And it’s certainly not deterring free agents from cashing checks.
Still, when the NFL Draft rolls around and the media returns to Levi’s Stadium, don’t be surprised if someone shows up with a roll of tinfoil - just in case.