A bizarre and long-running conspiracy theory surrounding the San Francisco 49ers' injury woes has been reignited by a former player, who claims a nearby electrical substation could be to blame for soft-tissue damage and even cancer.
Walker's Explosive Claims on Podcast
Delanie Walker, a tight end drafted by the 49ers in 2006 who stayed with the team until 2012, has poured fuel on the fire. Speaking on the 'Bussin' With The Boys' podcast, Walker revealed that concerns about the Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation, which sits adjacent to the team's Santa Clara training base, existed during his tenure.
"That's been an issue since I've been there," Walker stated. "They talked about moving that electrical substation because when I was there, it was said that it was giving people cancer." He claimed the team later "pushed it back a little bit" but did not fully resolve the issue.
The Theory Linking EMF Waves to Injuries
The theory, which has circulated for years, suggests that low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) waves from the substation could be degrading collagen and weakening tendons in players. This speculation has gained fresh momentum following the recent season-ending Achilles tendon injury suffered by star tight end George Kittle against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Walker added chilling personal anecdotes, saying, "You can even feel it sometimes... you can feel the energy." He recalled a day when a transformer exploded during practice. "That s*** sounded like a f***ing bomb went off. I was like: 'This is dangerous' but they're not going to move it." He also pointed to the area around the substation, insisting, "Everything dies where the power station is."
Player Safety Assurances and Secret Studies
The retired 41-year-old alleged that research was conducted into the site's potential impact during his time with the team. "They would start telling us: this may cause cancer, this is a study they're doing. They had doctors coming up there," Walker claimed.
He further suggested players may have been asked to sign waivers, though his memory was hazy. "We may have signed something, I'm going to be honest," he said. "I heard they were like: 'Oh it may make your ligaments weak' and I'm like: 'God Damn, that's crazy.'" Upon recently seeing a picture of the facility's proximity to the substation, Walker reflected, "We practiced right there too. that's the craziest s*** ever."
While the 49ers organisation has historically given players guarantees about the facility's safety, Walker's comments have thrust this unusual NFL conspiracy theory back into the spotlight, leaving fans and pundits to debate the potential hidden dangers facing professional athletes.
