After a season marked by a significant number of injuries, the San Francisco 49ers became the center of an unusual online theory. Multiple posts circulating on social media claimed that electromagnetic fields from a nearby electrical substation may have contributed to the team’s injuries. 

The theory gained traction on platforms such as Instagram and X with some posts about this topic garnering around 22 million views. In these posts, people suggested that EMFs emitted from a substation located near Levi’s Stadium could weaken tendons or collagen, increasing injury risk. The claims spread as multiple players dealt with hamstring strains and other soft-tissue injuries during the season.

NBC Bay Area sportswriter Matt Maiocco, who has reported on this issue, said the idea gained attention partly because fans were searching for answers.

“People were eager to find reasons why the 49ers had all those injuries,” Maiocco said. “That was an easy answer.”

He also said the substation is not new.

“That substation has been there since 1988 or 90,” Maiocco said. “I mean, it’s been there a long time. In fact, it was there before the 49ers moved their practice facility to Santa Clara.”

Electrical substations convert electricity into different voltages for efficient long distance travel and safe distribution to homes and businesses. 

Posts circulating online suggest that electromagnetic exposure can contribute to soft-tissue injuries. However, scientific and medical experts have not found evidence linking EMF exposure from electrical infrastructure to sport injuries. In his reporting, Maiocco spoke with Allen Sillis, the NFL’s chief medical officer, about the theory and said he learned injuries stem from multiple factors.

“There’s generally not one factor that is the reason that injuries occur,” Maiocco said, summarizing Sillis’ explanation. “Football is very hazardous to your health. I mean, it’s a collision sport, There are a lot of factors that go into it.”

Maiocco said the situation also pointed to other possible contributing factors, including scheduling issues, roster age, recovery time and luck. He said chance could also contribute to injuries.

Maiocco also said injuries are an unavoidable part of football and are not unique to one team.

“In the course of a season, every player gets injured. It’s just the matter of the severity and who is sustaining those injuries,” Maiocco said.

He said injuries can appear more severe when they affect star players, creating the perception of an unusually injury-plagued season.

“I think the difference from this year for the 49ers was that it seemed like their injuries happened to their best players,” Maiocco said.

Additionally, Maiocco said social media plays a major role in amplifying unverified claims.

“Once people get it in their minds of what they believe, it’s really difficult to dissuade them,” Maiocco said.

Even as the season ended, the theory continued to spark conversation among fans. At Palo Alto High School several students who follow the 49ers have seen these claims online.

Sophomore Cyler Rivera said he finds the theories ridiculous.

“That’s so dumb. They don’t even know what they’re talking about,” Rivera said. “There’s no factual evidence that even backs that. They’re just saying that because the team struggled.”

He said people are sad the 49ers season ended with a 41-6 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. “They’re stretching it way too far for something that’s not even related,” Rivera said.

But Maiocco said fan communities often mirror broader society in how they interpret such claims.

“I think an NFL locker room kind of mirrors society as far as what they believe.” Maiocco said. “There are players who I talked to who laughed it off and thought it was funny.  I think there are people in the locker room who (believe it). I wonder if that is something, you know, I wonder if that is the reason.”

Although the electrical substation theory gained attention online, medical experts and existing research have not found evidence linking EMF exposure to football injuries. Yet, Maiocco said conversation surrounding the theory may continue.

“I think that it will eventually just kind of go away,” Maiocco said. “I think it’ll always be there because you can see it from Levi’s Stadium.”