NFL team could be forced to move over wild conspiracy theory as players' fears mount
Mounting conspiracy theories about an electrical substation next to the San Francisco 49ers' facilities have reportedly sparked widespread fear across the league.
Over the past decade the Niners have been crippled by fitness issues, losing them a staggering $95million in salary cap value to players on their injured lists in 2025 alone.
And the long-running injury crisis has raised questions among NFL players, who have reportedly begun to grill their agents about the safety of the iconic franchise.
However, their doubts haven't stemmed from the team's training, medical staff or even culture, but rather electromagnetic fields.
Just days before 49ers tight end George Kittle suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, NFL fans had touted a wild conspiracy online, attributing the injury-ravished team's woes to a nearby substation.
Researcher Peter Cowan, who is a board-certified quantum biology practitioner, claimed that these frequent problems are due to chronic exposure to 'low-frequency electromagnetic fields' from an electrical substation right next to their stadium and practice facilities.
A wild conspiracy theory surrounding the 49ers' injury woes has gained traction
Despite being disputed by various other experts, the wild theory has gained traction throughout the league with some players raising concerns to their agents about playing for the Niners over the electrical substation near Levi's Stadium and the facilities in Santa Clara, according to the Washington Post.
One NFL agent reportedly believed that the 49ers organization may have to concern relocating from their current practice facilities as the fears triggered by the theory mount.
Another told The Post that they had bought an EMF gaussmeter - a handheld device that measures the strength of electromagnetic fields - to be on the safe side.
Cowan claims exposure to these fields can 'degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage at levels regulators call "safe"'.
'The damage is subtle, until a routine cut or block ends in catastrophic rupture,' he added in a thread which has generated almost 10 million views on X.
The Niners have been in the top five of the Adjusted Games Lost charts - a metric that assesses how much a team is affected by injuries - for 10 of the past 11 seasons, while recording seven full Achilles or patellar ruptures in that time, according to Cowan.
The team is also said to have had over 40 major hamstring or calf tears, as well as 'high-ankle syndesmosis injuries' every season since moving to Levi's Stadium in 2014.
To support his theory, Cowan also shared readings taken with a Gaussmeter - a device for measuring magnetic fields - which showed elevated levels of exposure near San Francisco's practice field and inside team facilities.
Players around the league have reportedly begun questioning the theory with their agents
The Niners' training facilities in Santa Clara, California are pictured
However, there is no scientific proof that electromagnetic field exposure is directly linked to NFL injury rates and others have come forward to brand the theory 'nonsense.'
Hans Kromhout, a Utrecht University professor of exposure assessment and occupational hygiene, told The Post that the explanation was 'quite unlikely.'
Back in October, NFL reporter Chase Senior reported that retired 49ers guard Jon Feliciano admitted players have joked around about there being an electrical substation right next to the practice that has led to their injury woes.
Kittle was carted off towards the end of the first half in Philadelphia, before San Francisco went on to secure a famous 23-19 playoff victory against the Super Bowl champions.
The incident occurred as he made a five-yard catch, his first of the night, towards the end of the first half in Philadelphia.
It means he will not be available for the rest of the postseason, while he also faces a battle to be fit for the 2026 campaign.
Moments after his heartbreaking injury blow, Kittle requested a bottle of Patron tequila to be sent to the locker room, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
The bottle was reportedly sent to him from the Niners owners' suite at Lincoln Financial Field, and within the space of four hours Russini claimed it was left empty.
It took just a few minutes for San Francisco to confirm Kittle had suffered an Achilles injury, ruling him out for the rest of the postseason and throwing his 2026 plans into turmoil too. Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers head coach, confirmed after the game that it was tear which means he will need surgery.
The 32-year-old joins a long list of superstar players to have suffered the horrifying injury over the past couple of years, including Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson and Najee Harris among others.
