San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recently drew attention to a strange detail supporting the theory that the team’s practice facility, located near an electrical substation, may be linked to the high volume of injuries suffered by players. Speaking with Complex during an interview, Kittle shared observations dating back to his rookie year in 2017, suggesting something unusual was happening around the substation that warranted deeper investigation. Although skeptical of the theory himself, Kittle signaled that further examination is needed to rule out any negative effects related to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on player health.
Details from Kittle’s Rookie Season Raise Questions
During his rookie season, Kittle recalled how veteran teammates pointed out that the trees separating the 49ers’ training facility from the electrical substation exhibited abnormal growth, failing to produce leaves as expected. This odd phenomenon caught players’ attention and remains a vivid example for those familiar with the area. According to Kittle, the trees were removed this year by the NFL, eliminating visual evidence that once hinted at possible environmental interference.
“(The trees aren’t) there anymore, so no one can see them,”
Kittle said.
“So, it’s only us vets that know that was the truth. I don’t think anyone talked about that yet. That one messed me up.”
Team’s Mixed Views on the EMF Injury Theory
Kittle expressed that while he personally doubts the EMF theory, many teammates, including Kyle Juszczyk, share a desire to explore the matter more thoroughly. He highlighted how athletes strive to optimize every aspect of their performance and health, emphasizing the importance of investigating any small factor that might be detrimental, no matter how minimal it appears.
“As a professional athlete, you’re always trying to get one percent better. If something’s affecting you negatively .25%, you’d want to know about it. All we’re saying as players is we’d like them to look into it to make sure it’s not something,”
Kittle explained.
To counter the theory, Kittle pointed out linebacker Fred Warner, who spends extensive time training at the same facility and has only suffered one major injury in his career, a broken ankle last October. Warner and other teammates such as Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey have publicly stated they are comfortable with the facility and do not link injuries to the location or surrounding environment.
“Dude, I am not a scientist, and I’m not a doctor. Look, we’ll play anywhere. You know, for us, I think that’s stuff that a lot of people smarter than me can talk about,”
McCaffrey told Fox News Digital.
“All I know is, you know, there’s too many variables in football to just say that something like that is the reason for injuries. I mean, you can do everything right and bad things can still happen, so.”
Background on the Growing EMF Injury Concern
The electromagnetic field injury theory originated as fans and analysts observed a spike in soft tissue and non-contact injuries affecting many 49ers players, including Kittle, McCaffrey, Purdy, Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, and Ricky Pearsall. This heightened injury rate sparked speculation that prolonged exposure to EMFs from the nearby substation could be weakening players’ tendons and soft tissues, increasing the risk of tears like ACLs and Achilles injuries.
Reportedly, the 2025 season saw an unusually long injury list, prompting ESPN to report that the 49ers intend to investigate every possible cause during the offseason, not limiting efforts to the substation theory alone.
Implications and Next Steps for the 49ers
The debate over the substation’s potential impact on player health remains unresolved, adding tension to an already challenging injury situation for the team. While players like Kittle urge clearer answers, several teammates maintain an open but cautious stance toward the theory. The 49ers’ decision to explore all injury-related hypotheses in the upcoming offseason suggests the organization recognizes the seriousness of the situation and aims to provide a safer environment for its athletes. How this investigation unfolds could influence future facility decisions and injury prevention protocols across the league.
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