49ers star Fred Warner finally addresses the viral conspiracy theory about why so many of his teammates keep getting injured

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is shutting down a viral conspiracy theory that claims an electrical substation near the team’s practice facility is causing their injury problems. Fans have been spreading this theory on social media after the team suffered many devastating injuries over the past two seasons.

According to The Daily Mail, the theory says the electrical substation, located close to the team’s training grounds, is causing too much exposure to electromotive force (EMF). Fans think this excessive exposure is directly causing the high number of soft tissue and serious injuries on the team. Warner doesn’t believe this theory at all.

The 49ers have dealt with many injuries recently. Stars like Nick Bosa, George Kittle, and Mykel Williams all faced serious problems this past season. Warner suffered the biggest blow when he broke his ankle in Week 6, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2025 season.

Operation Sports App

Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.

Your ultimate sports gaming companion.

Download on

App Store

Get it on

Google Play

4.8

Warner’s training history proves the EMF theory doesn’t hold up

Speaking on the St. Brown Podcast with NFL brothers Equanimeous and Amon-Ra St. Brown, Warner dismissed the idea that the electrical facility caused the injuries. He said there are “a lot of mixed reviews about that,” but when you look at the actual data, he believes the theory is “false.”

Warner trains at the facility year-round and has been incredibly healthy for most of his career. “I’ll be the first to tell you because I train year-round at our facility, I’m not going to sit here and say that a substation was the reason why I got my ankle broke in half,” Warner said. He explained his season-ending injury was a total “fluke injury.”

Before his ankle break, Warner had only missed one game in his entire career due to a hamstring injury. While Warner focuses on his recovery, other NFL news continues to make headlines, including Dave Portnoy’s decade-long NFL ban battle that recently reached a resolution. He joked that if the substation had any real effect, it might have helped him instead of hurting him. “The substation may have gave me super powers.”

“I don’t know. You know what I’m saying? I guess if you just overdose on it, you get Hulk strength or something,” he said. Despite Warner’s denial, the conspiracy theory has gotten so much attention that the team can’t ignore it. Warner mentioned the situation “did blow up,” with many people talking about it. 

The 49ers plan to do “a little bit more research behind all that this offseason.” Meanwhile, across the league, coaching changes have dominated conversations, particularly Mike Tomlin’s Steelers exit and rumors surrounding his departure. Even before any official research results, other teams are avoiding the facility. 

With Super Bowl LX happening in Santa Clara, neither participating team will use the 49ers’ practice fields. The New England Patriots will train at Stanford University in Palo Alto, while the Seattle Seahawks will use San Jose State University facilities instead.