49ers Star Tight End Raises Concerns Over Electrical Substation Next to Team Facility

George Kittle wants the team to investigate whether the substation is causing player injuries.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle has raised concerns about an electrical substation located next to the team's practice facility, suggesting it may be contributing to the high number of player injuries the team has faced in recent seasons. Kittle noted that a veteran player pointed out to him during his rookie year in 2017 that the trees between the facility and the substation had dead leaves year-round, and this year the NFL cut down all the trees, making the substation more visible. Kittle believes this could be evidence that the substation is causing harm, and he and his teammates want the team to investigate the issue further to ensure player safety.

Why it matters

The 49ers have dealt with an unusually high number of player injuries in recent seasons, which has significantly impacted the team's performance. If the electrical substation is found to be a contributing factor, it could lead to changes in the team's facility or even relocation to address the issue and protect player health.

The details

Kittle said he doesn't necessarily believe the substation theory, but he wants it checked out. He mentioned that during his rookie season, a veteran player pointed out to him that the trees between the Niners' facility and the substation had all dead leaves year round. This year, he added, the NFL cut all the trees down, which Kittle believes could be evidence that the substation is truly causing harm. Kittle said he and his fellow teammates, namely fullback Kyle Juszczyk, just want a clear answer, as they're always trying to get 'one percent better' and don't want anything negatively impacting them.

  • In 2017, a veteran player pointed out to Kittle that the trees between the facility and substation had dead leaves year-round.
  • In 2026, the NFL cut down all the trees between the facility and substation.

The players

George Kittle

The star tight end of the San Francisco 49ers who has raised concerns about the electrical substation next to the team's practice facility.

Kyle Juszczyk

A fullback for the San Francisco 49ers who, along with Kittle, wants the team to investigate whether the substation is causing player injuries.

Fred Warner

A linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who practices and trains at the facility year-round and has only suffered one major injury, a broken ankle, this season.

John Lynch

The general manager of the San Francisco 49ers who said the team plans to investigate every theory, including the substation, in the offseason following another injury-riddled year.

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What they’re saying

“As a professional athlete, you're always trying to get one percent better. If something's affecting you negatively .25 percent, you'd want to know about it. All we're saying as players is we'd like them to look into it to make sure it's not something.”

— George Kittle, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers (Complex)

“Because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything.”

— John Lynch, General Manager, San Francisco 49ers (ESPN)

What’s next

The 49ers plan to investigate the potential impact of the electrical substation on player health and safety during the offseason.

The takeaway

The 49ers' ongoing battle with player injuries has led to concerns about potential environmental factors, such as the electrical substation next to their practice facility. While the substation theory has been previously disproven, the team's commitment to thoroughly investigating all possibilities demonstrates their dedication to protecting the health and well-being of their players.