The San Francisco 49ers’ ongoing struggles with frequent soft-tissue injuries, combined with the buildup to a potential Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, have brought renewed attention to the theory that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from a nearby electrical substation could be contributing to the team’s health issues. Christian McCaffrey, a key figure on the team, expressed awareness of EMF exposure during an interview, emphasizing personal caution without fully endorsing the more extreme claims circulating among fans and players.
Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, McCaffrey acknowledged that EMFs and related modern technologies are not negligible factors.
“When it comes to EMFs and 5G and phones and blue light and Wi‑Fi, it’s not nothing,”
McCaffrey said. He linked these elements to hydration concerns, explaining,
“A lot of those things, what I’ve found, can be dehydrating, if you’re on your phone all the time, or your EMFs, it can dehydrate you a little bit. I won’t get into the science behind it, but if that’s the case, I think you need to increase your electrolyte and water intake.”
McCaffrey’s comments came amid his personal battle with calf and knee injuries during the 2024 season before returning in 2025, framing EMF concerns as part of his broader focus on recovery and body maintenance. He added,
“As somebody who obsesses over my body and being healthy all the time, I look into everything, and that’s definitely something you’ll look into,”
and continued,
“If it is something that can affect you, it’s worth (it) to look into and see how to maybe combat it. Do I think it’s as drastic as what people are saying? No, but if it is something, I’ll look into it, just like I’ll look into the way I train, where I train, how I train, when I train.”
McCaffrey’s cautious yet open approach echoes the San Francisco 49ers organization’s stance, which refrains from fully adopting the more alarming conspiracy theories but takes the players’ concerns seriously. The team’s general manager, John Lynch, has committed to investigating the issue thoroughly, citing both the high rate of injuries and the importance of addressing what the team discusses behind closed doors.
The Origins and Claims Behind the EMF and Injury Link
The theory at the heart of this controversy revolves around the Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation located near Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. A viral online thread popularized the idea that low-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by the substation might cause gradual degradation of soft tissues among 49ers players. This notion has circulated informally within the team’s locker room, fueling speculation among players and agents that the substation’s emissions could be a hidden factor in the team’s chronic injury problems.
However, scientific experts and NFL officials have generally dismissed the theory as lacking credible evidence. Health researchers and medical professionals emphasize that the type of EMFs in question—non-ionizing radiation—are not known to cause cellular or DNA damage equivalent to ionizing radiation found near nuclear reactors.
Frank de Vocht of Bristol Medical School labeled the theory as nonsense, while Jerrold Bushberg, radiology professor at UC Davis, told Front Office Sports there is
“no firmly established evidence”
supporting a connection between such EMFs and soft-tissue injuries. Similarly, Northwestern’s Gayle Woloschak pointed out that long-term studies have not demonstrated any clear soft-tissue effects from non-ionizing radiation exposure.
The NFL’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills, also weighed in, stating he was
“not familiar with anything in the sports medicine literature”
that validates a causal relationship between EMFs and the types of injuries reported by the 49ers. He highlighted the complexity of injury causation, noting that it rarely results from a single cause. Dr. Sills also cautioned against using publicly available injury data to draw conclusions, noting that internal NFL records do not show the 49ers leading the league in non-contact, lower-extremity injuries.
Team Leadership’s Response to Player Health Concerns
John Lynch addressed the EMF theory as one among many health and safety issues facing the team. Describing the theory as allegedly related to player well-being, Lynch committed the organization to exploring all possible angles. He stated that the 49ers are
“reaching out to anyone and everyone”
to identify legitimate research and evidence, emphasizing the team’s intention to “look at everything.” The focus remains on reducing injuries as much as possible while recognizing that complete prevention is unrealistic.
This ongoing inquiry reflects a broader atmosphere of frustration and determination within the 49ers, as players like McCaffrey and team officials attempt to understand and address the persistent injuries that have impeded the team’s performance. As the 2024 and 2025 seasons unfold and the spotlight intensifies on Levi’s Stadium, the investigation into the alleged EMF effects signals both the complexity of injury prevention in professional sports and the willingness of the organization to confront unconventional theories in pursuit of player health.
