The San Francisco 49ers 2025-26 season ended in disappointment once again. The culprit that many fans are blaming, however, is not a specific player or coach; instead, it’s a seemingly innocent electrical substation located just next to Levi’s Stadium. Heading into an offseason in which the 49ers need to address significant questions with their pass catchers, offensive line, and pass rush, somehow it’s the substation which has become the chief concern.
San Francisco’s major storylines this past year included Christian McCaffrey finishing with 2,126 total scrimmage yards and winning the Comeback Player of the Year award, the rise of kicker Eddy Piñeiro, the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and the intense competition in the NFC West division. However, above all, this season can be summarized by one word: injuries.
Defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner suffered season-ending injuries early in the year. Eventually, in their Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers were down to their 5th, 6th, and 7th-string linebackers. The offensive side wasn’t healthy either. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy missed six games while wide receiver Ricky Pearsall missed nine. In the end, the 49ers’ roster was decimated, and they were no match for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.
Now that the 49ers are eliminated, fans and experts alike have sought explanations for this issue, as this isn’t the first year in recent memory that the team’s season has ended due to injuries. One popular theory is related to the Silicon Valley Power electrical substation near Levi’s Stadium and the team’s practice facility. Some hypothesize that the extreme low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from the substation have weakened the players’ muscles, causing the team’s unusual number of soft-tissue injuries.
This conspiracy theory first originated from social media and exploded in popularity after self-proclaimed researcher Peter Cowan posted about it on X/Twitter. Along with noting the vicinity between the electrical substation and the 49ers’ facility and stadium, he shared a video of himself measuring the strength of the EMFs at the team’s practice fields. He claimed that his readings showed electromagnetic levels significantly higher than what he considered safe for long-term exposure.
Cowan’s post drew the attention of many doctors, players, and sports news outlets. The theory seemed plausible to some, such as New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins, who suggested that EMFs’ negative effects on plant growth could also apply to humans. Others, meanwhile, completely dismissed the claim, citing coach Kyle Shanahan’s rigorous practice schedule and the brutality of football as the real causes. Fred Warner, who has played for the 49ers his entire career and only missed one game prior to this year, argues that he would have been injured a long time ago if the electrical substation was indeed affecting the players. Retired tight end Delanie Walker agrees with Warner, referencing the fact that neighboring residents haven’t exhibited any abnormal health problems. Because of the significant amount of discourse surrounding this topic, the NFL Players Association and the 49ers organization have initiated investigations into the substation.
Most experts remain skeptical of this theory and argue that the injury problems likely stem from a subpar conditioning staff and a tough training schedule. However, the debate and speculation hasn’t stopped, as the fanbase is simply frustrated and searching for answers after yet another injury-plagued season.