The San Francisco 49ers players have experienced a number of injuries.[1] Many people believe it is due to the location of Levi’s Stadium.[2] The 49ers practice facility is next to Levi’s Stadium, and an electrical substation is located near this venue.[3]
The theory is that electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure can cause harm to the body.[4] Peter Cowan, an X user, posted on his profile: “Low-frequency electromagnetic fields can degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage at levels regulators call ‘safe.’”[5] Cowan’s post has over 22 million views and more than 35,000 likes.[6]
Some key 49ers players who have experienced injuries are Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and Nick Bosa.[7] Many of the injuries included tendon and ligament tears.[8] During the NFC Wild Card Round at Lincoln Financial Field, George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles against the Philadelphia Eagles.[9]
UC Davis Radiology Professor Jerrold Bushberg in an interview with Front Office Sports stated that ‘”these so-called ‘mechanisms’ have not been established. Many of the experiments are contradictory. Many of the experiments have exposures that either don’t relate specifically to 50-, 60-hertz magnetic fields, or are at much, much higher levels than what would be experienced at a practice level.’”[10]
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer, also commented on this issue.[11] Dr. Sills stated that they look at injury causation across the board.[12] They consult with experts in sports medicine and other industries to gain an understanding of injury causation.[13] He was unfamiliar with any sports medicine literature supporting this theory.[14]
In January of 2026, General Manager John Lynch said the 49ers will investigate this theory because it deals with the health and safety of their players.[15] Since the late 1980s, the 49ers have trained in Santa Clara, and the substation was installed a few years later.[16] The 49ers have dealt with injury issues over the past decade, which may warrant further investigation into this theory.[17]
[1] Marcus D. Smith, What is the 49ers injury conspiracy theory and is it true? USA Today (Jan. 17, 2026) https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/01/17/san-francisco-49ers-injury-conspiracy-explained/88233715007/.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Matt Maiocco, NFL responds to viral electrical substation theory for slew of 49ers injuries, NBC Sports (Jan. 31, 2026) https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/nfl-electrical-substation-injury-theory/1911625/.
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14] Id.
[15] Nick Wagoner, Niners to look into ‘everything,’ including substation theory, ESPN (Jan. 21, 2026) https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47685487/niners-look-everything-including-substation-theory.
[16] Id.
[17] Id.
Featured Image: Cam Inman, 49ers injury report: Roll call on this camp’s injuries before racing Raiders, Monterey Herald (Aug. 14, 2025) https://www.montereyherald.com/2025/08/14/49ers-injury-report-roll-call-on-this-camps-injuries-before-facing-raiders/.
Ann Marie E. Marseglia is a third-year law student at the University at Buffalo School of Law. She is pursuing a concentration in sports law and has an interest in Title IX matters. Ann Marie is a Student Attorney for the Sports Law Clinic, focusing on issues among girls and women in sports. She is also a Submissions Editor for the Buffalo Environmental Law Journal, Vice President for the Italian-American Law Students Association, and a Member of the Phi Alpha Delta Alden Chapter.
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