Super Bowl teams are refusing to practice at the San Francisco 49ers’ Santa Clara facility while the team investigates whether an adjacent electromagnetic substation is responsible for over a decade of devastating injuries.
Story Highlights
- New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks choose off-site practice locations instead of 49ers facility ahead of Super Bowl
- 49ers launch formal investigation into viral theory linking electromagnetic fields from nearby substation to team’s catastrophic injury epidemic
- Since 2014 substation expansion, 49ers led NFL with $95 million in injury costs and unprecedented soft-tissue damage
- Quantum biology practitioner’s claims gained 20 million social media views despite scientists dismissing theory as “nonsense”
Super Bowl Teams Choose Alternative Practice Sites
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks selected Stanford University and San Jose State respectively for their Super Bowl practice sessions, deliberately avoiding the 49ers’ Santa Clara training complex. The decision mirrors the 2016 Super Bowl setup but arrives amid unprecedented scrutiny of the facility. Both teams chose locations away from the 49ers’ headquarters, which sits adjacent to a high-voltage electromagnetic substation operated by Silicon Valley Power. The timing raises questions about whether concerns over electromagnetic field exposure influenced their choices, though NFL logistics historically allow flexibility for visiting teams.
Decade-Long Injury Crisis Triggers Investigation
The 49ers have suffered catastrophic injury rates since 2014, ranking in the top five for adjusted games lost in 10 of 11 seasons. The team recorded over $95 million in adjusted player value lost during the 2025 season alone, placing 20 players on injured reserve. Star players including George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and Brock Purdy missed significant time due to injuries. The team experienced seven to eight Achilles or patellar tendon ruptures compared to the league average of two to three per year, alongside more than 40 major hamstring and calf strains since the substation’s 2014 expansion.
Viral Theory Links EMF to Collagen Damage
Peter Cowan, a quantum biology practitioner, triggered widespread attention on January 6, 2026, when his X post claiming electromagnetic fields degrade collagen and weaken tendons garnered over 20 million views. Cowan alleged the substation’s low-frequency electromagnetic fields disrupt collagen formation at levels regulators consider safe, specifically targeting the connective tissues that anchor muscles to bones. Former 49ers guard Jon Feliciano previously joked in October 2025 about players’ awareness of a potential substation-injury connection. Receiver Kendrick Bourne also referenced the theory during the 2026 postseason, reflecting locker room conversations that had circulated for years.
GM Commits to Comprehensive Safety Review
General Manager John Lynch announced Wednesday that the organization would examine all potential injury factors, including the substation theory, despite acknowledging the lack of peer-reviewed scientific support. Lynch stated the team must “look into everything” regarding player safety while seeking legitimate studies on electromagnetic field exposure. He characterized Cowan’s methodology as unverified, noting it involved “a guy sticking apparatus under a fence” rather than rigorous scientific analysis. The investigation will assess injury prevention protocols holistically, reviewing trends, data collection methods, and medical staffing practices to address what Lynch described as injuries being “part of the game.”
Stop engagement farming. Super Bowl 50 had a similar arrangement. The Panthers practiced at SJSU and the Broncos practiced at Stanford. The practice locations have nothing to do with your conspiracy theory. https://t.co/vLtEhvCif5
— ravi (@ravimuks) January 26, 2026
Professor Frank de Vocht, an epidemiology expert from the University of Bristol, dismissed the electromagnetic field theory as “nonsense,” reflecting the broader scientific consensus that no credible evidence supports causation between low-frequency EMF and soft-tissue injuries. The 49ers’ Santa Clara facility was established in the late 1980s, with Silicon Valley Power’s substation constructed shortly afterward and significantly expanded in 2014 when Levi’s Stadium opened. Despite expert skepticism, the team’s unprecedented injury pattern and social media pressure have compelled ownership to pursue a thorough examination of all environmental factors at their training complex.
Sources:
New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks Avoid Electromagnetic Substation For 49ers Super Bowl Practice
49ers to look into ‘everything,’ including substation theory after injury-plagued season
Niners to look into ‘everything,’ including substation theory
