49ers Hire Scientist to Investigate Electrical Substation Impact on Injuries

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The San Francisco 49ers hired an independent scientist to investigate whether the nearby electrical substation was impacting the team's high injury rate during the 2025 season. The investigation found that the electromagnetic field (EMF) levels were 400 times less than unsafe zones, effectively ruling out the substation as the cause of the team's injury problems.

Why it matters

The 49ers had a plethora of injuries during the 2025 season, leading to a conspiracy theory that the nearby electrical substation and its EMFs were weakening player muscle tissue and resulting in more serious injuries. This investigation puts that theory to rest, but the team is still looking to address its injury issues through other means.

The details

The 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara, California is located directly next to Levi's Stadium and in close proximity to the Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation, which has been there since 1986 and was expanded in 2014. During the 2025 season, the team had 19 players miss a total of 254 games due to injuries, which ranked fourth-most in the league. This led to speculation that the EMFs from the nearby substation were the culprit.

• The 49ers have practiced at their Santa Clara facility since 1988.
• The Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation has been located next to the 49ers' facility since 1986, though it was expanded in 2014.
• During the 2025 season, the 49ers had 19 players miss a total of 254 games due to injuries.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The 49ers have invested $9 million into improving their rehab and recovery facilities, and have also hired three additional physical therapists to provide more 1-on-1 attention to players in the training room.