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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch did his best to put to rest the buzz surrounding the theory that an electrical substation near Levi’s Stadium could be the catalyst for the rash of injuries the team has suffered in recent years.
The theory surfaced on social media during the 2025 season, although the 49ers have played at Levi’s Stadium since 2014 and have used the practice facility that is also near the substation since 1989.
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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 24, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
49ers star George Kittle said in February that he didn’t believe the rumors were true, but also wanted a definitive answer.
Lynch provided a Sunday as NFL owners began meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. He said the organization had a scientist come to the site to see if anything was wrong.
“It was basically a big burger with nothing on it,” Lynch told reporters via ESPN. “We’re in a safe workplace. … It’s a normal workplace. It’s a normal gym. We’re safe, we’re healthy and we feel really good about it.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) is removed from the field after an injury during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
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“It was important for us to not just turn a blind eye, but to look at the issue, because it’s about the well-being of our players. It’s not just about the well-being of our players, it’s also about the coaches, the staff, all that. And that’s encouraging.”
According to the 49ers, the scientist learned that players and staff were exposed to an electromagnetic environment similar to that of the average gymnasium or workplace.
Still, the injury issue is something the 49ers will need to address as the seasons go by.
General Manager and President of Football Operations John Lynch watches players practice during the school’s NFL football pro day, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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San Francisco was 12-5 in 2025, but players like Kittle, Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall and Mykell Williams each missed multiple games due to injuries.
For now, it appears that the substation theory has been abandoned.
