Joe Rogan has brought major attention to a strange conspiracy theory. The theory claims that an electrical substation is causing the San Francisco 49ers to suffer an unusual number of serious injuries. What makes this even more interesting is that the 49ers confirmed this week they are looking into whether the power station near their training facility and Levi’s Stadium is actually hurting their players.
This isn’t just talk among fans anymore. Current 49ers players and former stars have discussed the theory. But according to Sportskeeda, Rogan’s recent podcast episode with author Paul Rooslie really pushed it into the spotlight.
“I was just reading this f—ing crazy thing… about the 49ers, about San Francisco,” Rogan said. “Isn’t it f—ing nuts? They think it’s real.” Rogan pointed out that the data shows a very unusual number of injuries coming from the San Francisco area.
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The injury data shows a troubling pattern worth examining
He specifically mentioned how close the training facility is to the power station. Rogan described the severity, noting “way more Achilles tendon blow outs, way more knees blown out, way more catastrophic ligament and tendon ruptures.”
Players reportedly started talking about these strange injury trends back in 2012. While people dismissed it as nonsense at first, Rogan argues the data is now impossible to ignore. He said when you look at the number of injuries from that specific area, “it’s like, this is not normal.”
When Rooslie suggested the players might be getting weakened by the water, Rogan corrected him. “Electricity,” he replied, explaining the problem comes from the Electromagnetic Field (EMF) signals from the substation. Rogan stressed that the data from this training facility shows a much higher rate of severe injuries than expected.
The 2025 season provided plenty of examples. Quarterback Brock Purdy dealt with turf toe issues. Star tight end George Kittle had a hamstring strain before tearing his ACL. Defensive end Nick Bosa also tore his ACL, and linebacker Fred Warner suffered a broken ankle. Other key players, including Ricky Pearsall, Mykel Williams, and Juan Jennings, also faced major injuries. The situation mirrors other recent NFL controversies, including DJ Moore’s viral moment after Chicago’s season.
Given how serious these injuries are, the organization can’t ignore the claims. General Manager John Lynch addressed the situation this week after the 49ers finished their 2025 season, confirming the investigation. “Because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything,” Lynch told reporters. He explained the team is reaching out to experts to see if any real studies exist. Lynch said the health and safety of their players is the top priority, adding, “We aren’t going to turn a blind eye.”
The substation has been running since 1986 and expanded in 2014. The 49ers opened their nearby practice facility in 1988 and won three Super Bowls in the seven seasons after. Lynch’s bold approach to addressing concerns reflects leadership similar to Curt Cignetti’s confident Indiana press conference debut.
However, not everyone believes the electrical theory. Jerrold Bushberg, a radiology professor at UC Davis, stated there is “no firmly established evidence” linking the power station to the injuries. Still, the fact that players believe it and the organization is investigating shows they’re taking this seriously.
Published: Jan 24, 2026 12:15 pm