49ers Sign Mike Evans, Social Media Erupts with Substation Jokes

The deal between the 49ers and Evans has sparked a wave of online humor about the team's proximity to an electrical substation.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The San Francisco 49ers have signed free agent wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year, $60.4 million contract. Following the announcement, social media was flooded with jokes about how Evans will deal with the team's proximity to an electrical substation near Levi's Stadium, which has been the subject of unsubstantiated claims about causing player injuries.

Why it matters

The substation jokes highlight the power of social media to latch onto and amplify unproven narratives, even when they are challenged by experts. The 49ers are taking the concerns seriously and investigating the issue, underscoring the need for sports teams to be proactive in addressing player health and safety issues, regardless of their origin.

The details

After signing with the 49ers, social media was immediately flooded with jokes about how Evans will handle the team's proximity to an electrical substation operated by Silicon Valley Power near Levi's Stadium. The theory, which lacks scientific support, claims that exposure to electromagnetic fields from the substation could be linked to non-contact lower-body injuries suffered by 49ers players. Despite the lack of evidence, the jokes have taken on a life of their own on NFL Twitter.

  • The 49ers signed Mike Evans to a three-year, $60.4 million contract on March 9, 2026.

The players

Mike Evans

A wide receiver who has signed a three-year, $60.4 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers after spending his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

John Lynch

The general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, who has stated that the team is looking into the concerns about the electrical substation near their training facility because it relates to the health and safety of their players.

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What they’re saying

“Because it deals with the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything. We've been reaching out to anyone and everyone to see if a study exists other than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath the fence and coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means? That's what we know exists. We've heard that debunked. … The health and safety of our players is of the utmost priority. We pore into it. Our ownership, Jed [York], is tremendous in terms of resources, and we'll always be cognizant of things.”

— John Lynch, General Manager, San Francisco 49ers (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The 49ers have stated they are investigating the concerns about the electrical substation and its potential impact on player health, indicating they will continue to look into the issue.

The takeaway

The substation jokes highlight the power of social media to amplify unproven narratives, even when they are challenged by experts. The 49ers' proactive approach to addressing player health and safety concerns, regardless of their origin, demonstrates the importance of sports teams being responsive to community issues that may impact their players.