49ers Plagued by Injuries Amid EMF Controversy

Conspiracy theory blames electromagnetic field from nearby substation for team's injury woes

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:37am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold colors, breaking down a football game into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conceptually representing the 49ers' injury issues.A cubist interpretation of the 49ers' injury-plagued season, with the team's struggles reflected in a fragmented, geometric depiction of the game.Santa Clara Today

A bizarre scientific conspiracy theory has emerged claiming that the San Francisco 49ers' high number of player injuries is being caused by an electromagnetic field (EMF) emanating from a nearby electrical substation. While some experts dismiss the idea, others say it's possible low-frequency EMFs could be impacting the team's elite athletes in ways regulators consider 'safe' for the general public.

Why it matters

The 49ers' injury issues have become a major talking point, with the team consistently among the league leaders in 'adjusted games lost' over the past decade. If the EMF theory gains more traction, it could impact the team's ability to attract talent and even force them to relocate their practice facility away from the substation.

The details

The controversy centers around the 49ers' practice facility, which is located just north of a large electrical substation in Santa Clara, California. A self-proclaimed biophysics expert named Peter Cowan has argued that the low-frequency EMFs from the substation are degrading collagen, weakening tendons, and causing soft-tissue damage in the 49ers players. Cowan claims to have measured elevated 'milligauss' levels at the site. However, other experts have pushed back, saying the substation couldn't possibly be the sole cause of the team's injury woes, which are not vastly different from other NFL teams.

  • In December 2025, Cowan visited the substation and claimed to have measured elevated EMF levels.
  • Cowan's original social media post about the theory went viral in early 2026, racking up over 22 million views.
  • The Super Bowl is scheduled to be held in Santa Clara next month, further fueling the EMF conversation.

The players

Peter Cowan

A self-proclaimed circadian health and biophysics expert who has argued the 49ers' injuries are directly linked to electromagnetic fields from a nearby electrical substation.

George Kittle

The 49ers' star tight end who suffered a devastating Achilles tear last Sunday, further intensifying the EMF conspiracy theory.

Aaron Schatz

An injury analyst who noted the 49ers have topped the NFL in 'adjusted games lost' per season over the past decade, but said their numbers are not a huge outlier compared to other teams.

Christopher Collins

An NYU radiology professor who dismissed the idea that the substation could be causing the 49ers' injuries, stating he 'honestly can't imagine' it being a factor.

David O. Carpenter

A University of Albany environmental health professor who said he 'does not find it to be a crazy hypothesis' that EMFs could be related to the 49ers' injuries, though he stopped short of definitively blaming the substation.

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What they’re saying

“Low-frequency electromagnetic fields can degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage at levels regulators call 'safe'.”

— Peter Cowan, Biophysics Expert

“[The substation] was definitely a conversation the whole two years I was there. I truly believe in it... The top-tier athletes are definitely taking that s--t into concern.”

— Jon Feliciano, Former 49ers Guard

“No one wants to believe that something that we are all exposed to and something that is such an integral part of our life can be dangerous in excess, and that is part of the reason it is ignored.”

— David O. Carpenter, Environmental Health Professor

What’s next

If the 49ers manage two road upsets and reach the Super Bowl, which is being held in Santa Clara next month, the substation controversy is likely to intensify further.

The takeaway

While some experts dismiss the EMF theory as a 'nonsense' conspiracy, the persistent injury issues plaguing the 49ers have left the door open for alternative explanations. If the concerns over the substation's impact on elite athletes gain more traction, it could force the team to consider relocating its practice facility, with potential implications for their ability to attract talent.