NFL leaders monitoring viral EMF conspiracy theory about 49ers injuries that doctors have debunked

NFL leaders are pushing back against a viral conspiracy theory that suggests the San Francisco 49ers' recent injury woes are linked to electromagnetic fields from a nearby electrical substation.

The claim, which has resurfaced on social media and at the Super Bowl press conference, posits that exposure to EMFs could be causing players like 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to suffer from chronic pain and inflammation. However, medical experts have widely debunked this theory, with the NFL's chief medical officer dismissing it as "baseless" last week.

The 49ers' owner Jed York also chimed in on the issue during an appearance on a radio show, noting that the substation has been near the team's facilities for decades and has not been linked to any problems. "Jerry Rice was there," York said. "It didn't seem to affect Jerry Rice. It seems like Jerry Rice can still play today. I don't think that's something that's a real issue."

Sports medicine specialists say there is no clear connection between electrical infrastructure and injury rates, with Dr. Drew Lansdown, a sports medicine surgeon at UCSF, stating it is "hard to draw that connection" from the substation to what has been seen on the field.

However, Lansdown acknowledged that league leaders and medical experts should acknowledge public concerns rather than dismissing them outright. "I think it is important to acknowledge that they have looked into it," he said. "To understand if there is something that could be done differently. I think the worst thing would be to ignore it."

The NFL Players Association has also pushed back on the theory, with interim executive director David White stating that medical experts have found no evidence supporting the claim. While curiosity around the theory is not surprising, White emphasized the need for credible data.

For now, it seems that the 49ers and the rest of the league will continue to play without worrying about EMFs from nearby substations contributing to their injuries. But as Lansdown pointed out, it's always better to acknowledge concerns rather than dismiss them outright.

OMG, come on guys ... electromagnetic fields? really? I get why they're pushing back, but also can't we just keep an open mind for once? I mean, Jerry Rice is still playing today, right? But at the same time, it's not like they haven't looked into it. Dr. Lansdown said there's no clear connection... it's hard to deny that when you hear a doctor say so . And what's the harm in acknowledging public concerns? It's not like they're going to start building EMF-free zones around stadiums . Let's focus on actual injury causes, like concussions and whatnot .

Come on , a substation near the stadium could be causing all these injuries? I don't think so! It's just another conspiracy theory that's gonna pop up and get debunked in no time. I mean, what are the chances of it actually being true? Like, what's the connection between EMFs and chronic pain? Not buying it.

And what about all these "experts" saying there's no clear connection? That just means they haven't done their research or something. I'm sure the substation has been near the facilities for decades without anyone getting hurt... or at least, not publicly known to have gotten hurt .

It's funny how some people get so worked up over this stuff. Like, what's next? Are we gonna start blaming our injuries on our socks or something?

I feel like this is getting weird lol The idea that electrical substations are causing players' chronic pain and inflammation seems super far-fetched. I mean, I get that people are curious, but come on! Jerry Rice is still playing? That's like saying a player who's been doing the same thing for years can just magically stop getting hurt after some conspiracy theory comes along

And yeah, medical experts have already debunked it, so why keep pushing the narrative? It's not like they're hiding something or anything. The NFL and sports medicine specialists are on top of this. They know what they're talking about.

It's always good to listen to people's concerns, but you can't just ignore a bunch of unproven theories and expect everything to be okay. I think that's where the problem is

I'm still waiting for someone with a legit explanation . I mean, I've seen more convincing theories on the internet that involve aliens ️. Come on, guys! A substation that's been there for decades and suddenly players are experiencing chronic pain? It sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi movie . And Jerry Rice is still playing today? That's rich . I'm not buying it. There has to be some legit explanation, but until then, I'll just keep calling BS

I'm low-key surprised this conspiracy theory is still going around lol the NFL has been over this already what's next gonna be that vaccines are cursed too? anyway i guess it's good that medical experts like Dr Drew Lansdown are speaking up about this stuff. acknowledging public concerns is a good first step, and who knows maybe they'll find some connection to electrical fields or whatever

EMFs conspiracy theories are a dime a dozen. I mean, come on ... You got NFL players and teams scrutinizing electrical substations like they're radioactive hotspots? Give me a break . It's just ridiculous. Medical experts have already shut it down as baseless, but some people still wanna keep the myth alive . What's next? Claiming their concussions are from the grass on the field? The 49ers and NFLPA pushing back is about time - let's focus on actual player safety, not wild goose chases .

OMG, this theory is so whack ! Like, I get that people are curious, but come on, no clear connection between electrical infrastructure and injury rates? It's not like the 49ers are gonna start carrying around EMF detectors or anything . And Dr. Drew says it's hard to draw a connection from the substation to what's happening on the field, which is pretty much true, tbh . But still, acknowledging public concerns without dismissing them outright? That makes sense, I guess. Can't we just focus on actual sports injuries instead of this wild EMF stuff?

I just read this crazy conspiracy theory about how electrical substations are causing injuries in football players and I'm like what is wrong with people? It's baseless, plain and simple! I mean come on, Jerry Rice is still playing today and he's been around that substation for years and nothing seems to have happened to him. And don't even get me started on the lack of credible data supporting this theory. Can't we just rely on what medical experts actually say instead of jumping on some wild conspiracy?

I'm telling you, folks , this electromagnetic field theory is totally debunked already! Like, medical experts have been saying nope for weeks now. The NFL chief medical officer called it baseless and all that jazz . And the 49ers' owner Jed York knows a thing or two about Jerry Rice's health record - if it didn't affect him back then, why should it start causing problems now?

I mean, I get where the players are coming from - they're worried sick about their health . But we need some credible data to back up these claims, you know? The NFLPA is pushing for that too . Let's not dismiss concerns just because they sound weird or conspiracy-y . Acknowledge them, investigate, and maybe, just maybe, we'll find out that there's something fishy going on .

But honestly, I'm not buying this whole EMF theory . I mean, come on, if it was that simple to link electrical infrastructure to player injuries, don't you think someone would've found the connection by now? It's just not that hard to do some actual research and fact-checking .

So yeah, let's all take a deep breath and calm down . The 49ers will play on without worrying about EMFs from the substation . And we'll keep an eye out for any actual credible evidence that might come our way .