The San Francisco 49ers have been decimated by injuries for years. The pattern became impossible to ignore during the 2025 season when Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and George Kittle all went down with season-ending injuries.
A viral conspiracy theory emerged on social media attempting to explain the phenomenon. The theory points to a large electrical substation located near the 49ers’ practice facility and Levi’s Stadium, suggesting that low-frequency electromagnetic fields are causing soft-tissue injuries to San Francisco players.
The speculation reached the locker room. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk acknowledged the theory has circulated among players for years, though he remains cautious about drawing conclusions without scientific evidence.
Juszczyk Stays Open-Minded About Substation Theory
GettySan Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Juszczyk told Front Office Sports’ Margaret Fleming that the electrical substation has been a talking point inside the organization for years. He wants to see actual data before making any judgments.
“It’s definitely been a talking point for years,” Juszczyk said. “It’s one of those things that it’s just so hard to say because the science is not clear behind it. And I’m very much a science-driven person. And I want to see the numbers and the statistics.”
The fullback isn’t ready to accept the theory without proof, but he’s not dismissing it entirely either. The 49ers have dealt with an unusual volume of injuries compared to other NFL franchises, and Juszczyk wants to understand whether there’s any connection.
“I mean, is it a coincidence that we’ve led the NFL in injuries for the last, like, decade?” Juszczyk said. “I don’t know, it very well could be. Because a lot of injuries simply come down to bad luck, bad timing, you’re in a bad position. But there’s a lot that goes into it. And if that may be some of it, I don’t know. I am very curious. I really am. I want to see what someone who truly understands that field, what they have to say about it, and just be curious to know.”
It was a measured response that reflected both skepticism and genuine curiosity. Juszczyk recognizes that many injuries result from random chance, but he’s open to examining every possible contributing factor.
He adds that he is “very curious” to see what research reveals during the offseason.
Warner Rejects the Theory Entirely
GettyFred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers.
Warner offered a blunter assessment during an appearance on the St. Brown Podcast. He trains year-round at the facility and doesn’t believe the substation caused his ankle to break in half during the 2025 season.
That was a fluke injury, Warner said. Before that, he’d missed just one game in seven-plus years with San Francisco. The substation didn’t give him superpowers during those healthy seasons, he joked. Maybe overdosing on electromagnetic fields gives you Hulk strength.
Warner has posted 597 solo tackles, 351 assists, 10 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, and 10 interceptions in 121 games with the 49ers. His durability stands in direct contradiction to the substation theory, at least in his view.
He offered an alternative explanation for San Francisco’s injury problems. The 49ers carry an older roster, Warner said. They train harder than most NFL teams in terms of practice intensity and supplemental work. Football guarantees injuries regardless of external factors. It’s a combination of age, training load, and the nature of the sport.
Fred Warner is not buying into the substation theories.
Lynch Says 49ers Will Investigate Anyway
GettyGeneral manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers.
General manager John Lynch announced earlier this month that the organization plans to investigate the substation theory despite skepticism from some players.
Anything involving player health and safety requires examination, Lynch said. The 49ers have been reaching out to experts to determine whether legitimate studies exist beyond someone sticking a device under the facility fence and recording numbers without context.
Lynch acknowledged hearing the theory debunked multiple times. But the health and safety of players remains the organization’s top priority. Owner Jed York provides tremendous resources for investigating potential issues, and the franchise won’t turn a blind eye to possibilities.
The 49ers have practiced in Santa Clara since 1988. The electrical substation dates back to 1993. Levi’s Stadium has hosted plenty of victories since opening in 2014. If the substation were causing injuries, the pattern should have emerged decades ago rather than intensifying in recent years.
John Lynch says they’ll look into it.
The 49ers’ Practical Problem
Even if the investigation finds some connection between electromagnetic fields and soft-tissue injuries, the solutions are limited. The 49ers can’t relocate Levi’s Stadium to a different city. Santa Clara can’t shut down a major power station serving the region.
The most realistic outcome is that experts debunk the theory conclusively, allowing the organization to focus on other explanations for their injury problems. Age, training methods, and roster construction seem like more promising areas for adjustment.
So they’ve been practicing next to the plant since 1988, but it’s only become an issue in the last 7 or 8 years, which actually coincides perfectly with when Shanahan took over. And he has a notoriously rigorous
Final Word
The substation conspiracy theory reflects the desperation of a franchise searching for answers. The 49ers have watched championship windows close because key players couldn’t stay healthy. Finding a simple external cause would be convenient.
But football is violent. Injuries happen. Older rosters break down faster than younger ones. The 49ers’ practice intensity under Kyle Shanahan is legendary around the league. Those factors probably explain more than electromagnetic fields.
Lynch is right to investigate anyway. Ruling out possibilities helps narrow the focus toward actual solutions. If nothing else, the study might provide definitive evidence that lets the organization move on from the conspiracy theory and address the real issues contributing to San Francisco’s injury epidemic.
Warner spent seven mostly healthy years training at the facility before his ankle broke. Juszczyk has been relatively durable throughout his career despite practicing in Santa Clara since 2017. If the substation were systematically damaging players, those success stories wouldn’t exist.
The 49ers will get their answers this offseason. The investigation will either validate concerns or put the theory to rest permanently. Either way, San Francisco needs to find solutions before another championship opportunity slips away because the roster couldn’t stay intact.
49ers Star Addresses Conspiracy Theory About Injuries