In football, it’s pretty common for players to get hurt, especially with how long and tough the NFL season is. For the San Francisco 49ers, injuries have been a big topic in recent years. Fans have theorized that a power plant or electrical station operated by Silicon Valley Power (SVP) near Levi’s Stadium might be affecting the players’ bodies, specifically their tendons and ligaments.

     This is the idea: being around electrical equipment for long periods might slowly weaken soft tissues and break down collagen. Since the 49ers practice and play right next to Levi’s Stadium, fans think they might be more exposed than other teams. There’s no science to back this up, but the theory is catching on because no other team spends as much time in that same area.  

     This conversation grew louder after tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs, a season-ending injury. Injuries like torn Achilles tendons and ligament damage are especially frustrating for fans because they don’t just affect one game. They can change careers and change the trajectory of an entire season. According to data, the 49ers have had players miss more games due to injuries than most NFL teams in recent seasons, and last year, they were near the top of the league in total games missed. When injuries consistently keep happening, it becomes hard for fans not to wonder if there is more going on than just football. 

     Junior Reed Roskovensky expressed his thoughts:

     “It’s being taken a little too seriously because there’s not enough evidence to justify the level of attention it’s getting,” Reed said. “The powerplant feels more like a coincidence turned conspiracy than a fact-based explanation.”

     Supporters of the theory often point to electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, which are produced by large electrical facilities. Some studies suggest that very high levels of EMF exposure can affect cells in the body. Fans who believe the theory argue that long-term exposure could interfere with collagen production, which helps keep tendons and ligaments strong. While this has not been proven in professional athletes, it explains why some people think the power plant could play a role in the 49ers’ injuries. 

      Some students find it hard to believe the theory makes sense even how much time the 49ers spend near Levi’s Stadium.

     “I think this theory is being taken too seriously,” junior Landon Polanchyck said. “I mean, the 49ers have been in that location way before all these significant injuries, and the injuries just started to pile up now. I can see it more as bad luck rather than it actually being true.”

     Linebacker Fred Warner disagreed with the idea on a podcast that the electrical station caused his injury, saying that, “when you look at the actual data … I think that’s false,” and added jokingly that it might have given him “superpowers” due to his healthy career up until his season-ending ankle injury.

     Monte Vista fans and the 49ers themselves agree: it’s hard to believe that the power plant next to the 49ers’ facilities has anything related to the recurring injury problem. As well as the coaches reassurances about player safety given the loose connections to electrical stations. At the same time, science cannot back up either side of this debate, leaving the fans optimistic coming into future seasons.