Nothing to see here NFL fans and conspiracy theorists… keep it moving.
For much of 2026, and even years prior, people have been trying to figure out why the San Francisco 49ers are the most injured team in the NFL. There’s actually a study that found they are statistically the most injured squad in the past decade. So it’s not just a casual observation… it’s a fact.
One explanation that really caught on was proposed by a self-described scientist and EMF (electromagnetic field) researcher named Peter Cowan, who shared his theory about all of the 49ers’ injuries back in January. He strongly believes that it can all be explained by the fact that the team’s practice facility and stadium sit beside a large electrical substation.
According to Cowan, consistent exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields is “degrading the collagen integrity in the players tendons, ligaments, and muscle-tendon junctions. The damage is subtle, until a routine cut or block ends in catastrophic rupture.”
The theory has been largely dismissed by doctors, but NFL players both on the 49ers and throughout the league have expressed concern. Some have even gone as far to tell their agents that they don’t want to play in San Francisco. Obviously, that creates a problem for the NFL franchise in California, so General Manager John Lynch set out to debunk the claims and put a stop to all of the substation conspiracy theories.
The team hired an independent scientist (with over 45 years of experience studying electromagnetic fields) to look into the nearby electrical substation and determine whether or not it could be to blame for the plethora of injuries. Lab grade equipment was used to measure the electromagnetic output of the substation, and the scientist found that the levels were 400 times below the threshold that would be considered an “unsafe work environment.”
Lynch shared in a statement at the NFL’s annual meetings that he was happy to put all of the rumors and theories to rest:
“It basically was a big nothing burger. We’re in a safe place of work. It’s a normal place of work. It’s a normal gym. We are safe, we’re healthy, and we feel really good about that.
That was important to us, not just to turn a blind eye, but to look into it because it’s our players’ wellness. It’s not only our players’ wellness, it’s coaches, it’s staff, all that. And it’s encouraging. I felt like it would be that way, but it’s encouraging that it came out in a good place.”
So there you have it.
The only issue? The San Francisco 49ers are still the most injured team in the NFL. Just last year, stars like defensive end Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner, and tight end George Kittle all suffered injuries that ended their seasons. So now that the electrical substation is ruled out… who or what is to blame?
Obviously, it’s great news that the substation wasn’t the cause of the issues. But at the same time… I’m sure players – and San Francisco fans – are still hungry for an answer explaining why the 49ers are plagued by injuries year after year. I’ve got a feeling that Dustin Little, the head athletic trainer for the team since 2019, is sweating bullets knowing that he might be what the 49ers look into next.
