A bizarre conspiracy theory centred on an electrical substation near the San Francisco 49ers' facilities is reportedly sowing fear across the National Football League, as the team grapples with a catastrophic and costly injury epidemic.
The $95 Million Injury Crisis
Over the past decade, the 49ers have been plagued by fitness issues, reaching a staggering peak in the 2025 season alone. The team lost an estimated $95 million in salary cap value to players on their injured reserve lists, a financial blow that mirrors their on-field struggles. This long-running crisis has now prompted NFL players to question the safety of joining the iconic franchise, with many reportedly grilling their agents about potential risks.
Intriguingly, the doubts are not focused on the team's training methods, medical staff, or internal culture. Instead, attention has turned to the physical environment, specifically the influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emanating from a power substation adjacent to Levi's Stadium and the practice facilities in Santa Clara, California.
The Substation Theory Gains Traction
The theory entered the mainstream just days before star tight end George Kittle suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during a playoff victory in Philadelphia. It was propelled online by researcher Peter Cowan, a self-described board-certified quantum biology practitioner. Cowan claims the team's woes stem from chronic exposure to 'low-frequency electromagnetic fields' from the substation.
In a social media thread that garnered almost 10 million views, Cowan argued that such exposure can "degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage at levels regulators call 'safe.'" He added, "The damage is subtle, until a routine cut or block ends in catastrophic rupture."
To support his claims, Cowan cited the 49ers' dismal injury record. The team has been in the top five of the Adjusted Games Lost metric—which measures a team's susceptibility to injuries—for 10 of the past 11 seasons. Since moving to Levi's Stadium in 2014, he notes the team has suffered seven full Achilles or patellar ruptures and over 40 major hamstring or calf tears, alongside recurring high-ankle injuries each season.
League-Wide Alarm and Scientific Skepticism
The Washington Post reports that the theory, though widely disputed, has gained significant traction among players. Some are so concerned they have raised the issue with their agents when considering contracts with the Niners. One agent suggested the organisation may eventually have to consider relocating its training complex if fears continue to mount.
Another agent revealed they had purchased an EMF gaussmeter, a handheld device for measuring magnetic field strength, for personal due diligence. This reaction highlights the tangible anxiety the conspiracy has generated within professional circles.
However, the scientific community largely dismisses the link. Professor Hans Kromhout, an expert in exposure assessment and occupational hygiene at Utrecht University, told The Post the explanation was "quite unlikely." There remains no peer-reviewed scientific proof connecting EMF exposure at these levels to increased NFL injury rates, with many experts branding the theory as nonsense.
The speculation has even permeated the 49ers' locker room. Retired guard Jon Feliciano admitted last October that players had previously joked about the substation being the root cause of their persistent injury bad luck.
The immediate fallout is most keenly felt by George Kittle. The 32-year-old's Achilles tear not only rules him out for the remainder of the postseason but also throws his availability for the 2026 campaign into turmoil. He joins a growing list of NFL stars, including Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, to suffer the devastating injury in recent years.
As the 49ers look to rebuild and compete, they now face a dual challenge: managing a genuine injury crisis and combating a pervasive conspiracy theory that is unsettling the very players they seek to recruit.
