49ers' George Kittle shares new concerning story on electrical substation conspiracy

Kittle's rookie season revelation about dead trees near the substation adds fuel to the ongoing debate.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has shared a new concerning story about the electrical substation located near the team's practice facility. Kittle revealed that during his rookie season, there were trees between the substation and the practice field, and the leaves on those trees were dead year-round above the fence, while the rest of the trees were healthy. This revelation has added more fuel to the ongoing conspiracy theory that the substation is negatively impacting the 49ers players and contributing to the team's injury issues.

Why it matters

The 49ers have faced a rash of serious injuries to key players in recent seasons, leading to speculation that the nearby electrical substation could be a contributing factor. Kittle's new story about the dead trees lends credence to these conspiracy theories, which the team and the NFL have yet to fully address or investigate.

The details

According to Kittle, during his rookie season in 2017, there were trees between the electrical substation and the 49ers' practice facility, and the leaves on those trees were dead year-round above the fence, while the rest of the trees were healthy. Kittle said he pointed this out to the team in 2021, but this year the NFL came in and cut down all the trees, so the evidence is no longer visible. Kittle wants the NFL to investigate the substation and confirm whether it is having any negative impact on the players.

  • In 2017, during Kittle's rookie season, the dead trees were present.
  • In 2021, Kittle pointed out the dead trees to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
  • In 2026, the NFL cut down all the trees, removing the visible evidence.

The players

George Kittle

A tight end for the San Francisco 49ers who has played for the team since 2017.

Kyle Shanahan

The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

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What they’re saying

“Now, one thing that messes me up with it, this is tough, my rookie season there used to be trees in between the electrical substation and our practice facility. There's a fence there, too. And above the fence all the trees had no leaves on them, year-round, all dead.”

— George Kittle (Complex News)

“Nobody notices it until you point it out. I didn't point it out to Kyle Shanahan until 2021. A vet pointed it out to me my rookie season, and I was like 'That's kind of weird'.”

— George Kittle (Complex News)

“But then this year the NFL came in and cut them all down. So they're not there anymore so no one can see them. So it's only us vets that know that was the truth. I don't think anyone talked about that yet. That one messed me up.”

— George Kittle (Complex News)

What’s next

Kittle explained that he wants the NFL to investigate the electrical substation and confirm whether it is having any negative impact on the 49ers players. Until the league addresses the issue, the conspiracy theories surrounding the substation will likely continue.

The takeaway

George Kittle's new revelation about the dead trees near the electrical substation during his rookie season adds further credence to the ongoing conspiracy theories surrounding the substation's potential impact on the 49ers' injury issues. The team and the NFL will need to thoroughly investigate the matter to either confirm or dispel these concerns.