ByNoah Furtado,Staff WriterJune 23, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers during training at the Levi’s Stadium practice field in Santa Clara on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The San Francisco 49ers during training at the Levi’s Stadium practice field in Santa Clara on Thursday, May 28, 2026.Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle
The San Francisco 49ers are mulling a potential relocation of their practice site, the Chronicle has confirmed. Such a change does not appear imminent. Any move is being considered as a long-term possibility.
Currently, the 49ers practice at the SAP Performance Facility, located next to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Their practice fields are also infamously close to the Silicon Valley Power Northern Receiving Station, an electrical substation with transformers that tower over the facility.
A social media theory claimed the electromagnetic fields emitted were to blame for the 49ers being regularly among the NFL teams most affected by injuries. They averaged the highest adjusted games lost, an advanced statistic on the cumulative effect of injuries, from 2013-21, suffered the highest total AGL in 2020 and 2024, and ranked in the top-five again this past season.
The Athletic wrote in a Tuesday story, which featured 49ers CEO Al Guido, that the team was “exploring a possible nearby relocation” due to growing real estate limitations at Levi’s Stadium. This development, however, was not attributed to Guido. The substation was not cited as a factor.
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49ers’ John Lynch says EMF injury theory debunked by scientist. ‘Big nothing burger’
An independent scientist hired by the San Francisco 49ers reportedly found practice facility EMF levels were “400 times less than unsafe zones,” said GM John Lynch.
An independent scientist hired by the 49ers reportedly found practice facility EMF levels were “400 times less than unsafe zones,” said general manager John Lynch.
NFL players ponder EMF injury risk theory: ‘Hopefully, we can make it out in one piece’
The discussion around the potential effects an electrical substation might have on the health of 49ers players went national in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX.
New England Patriots defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga said he had overheard teammates joking about the theory of electromagnetic fields raising injury risk, saying, “I didn’t know if it was real or not.”
General manager John Lynch had said following a 2025 campaign in which the 49ers overcame several major injuries to key players, including Fred Warner (ankle fracture/dislocation), Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and George Kittle (torn Achilles), the organization would look into the EMF theory. Lynch’s last update at the NFL owners’ meetings in March called it a “big nothingburger” in accordance with findings he referenced from an independent scientist that was hired to make a determination on the claimed negative health effects of the substation.
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“We’re safe,” Lynch said. “We’re in a safe place of work, the levels … are 400 times less than unsafe zones. So it’s a normal place of work. It’s a normal gym. We are safe. We’re healthy. And we feel really good about that.”
The 49ers did not identify the scientist or publish his findings publicly.
A number of 49ers players had noted their curiosity, if not concern. Several players from other teams also chimed in. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride told the Chronicle earlier this year the theory would hurt the 49ers in free agency if the theory was not disproven. The 49ers signed All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans away from the Buccaneers, welcomed back standout linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and re-signed left tackle Trent Williams to a multi-year deal this offseason, among other depth signings and re-signings.
Pre-dating their move from Candlestick Park, the 49ers have practiced in Santa Clara since 1988. The substation in its first form was installed in 1994 and expanded when Levi’s Stadium was introduced in 2014.