Fred Warner debunks substation injury theory, citing football's inherent risks and his own career durability.
With Super Bowl LX scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium, renewed attention has once again turned toward the theory surrounding the San Francisco 49ers’ injury history. Specifically, speculation has resurfaced about whether a nearby electrical substation could be contributing to the team’s unusually high number of injuries over the past several seasons.
While the theory has never been scientifically proven, the proximity of the substation to the 49ers’ practice facility and stadium has fueled ongoing debate among fans and media alike. With the NFL spotlight set to shine brighter than ever on Levi’s Stadium, the organization has acknowledged that it continues to review the data surrounding the claims.
49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner addressed the topic directly during a recent appearance on the St. Brown Podcast, hosted by Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown. Warner, who has spent his entire career training and practicing at the team’s Santa Clara facility, dismissed the theory as largely unfounded.
“There’s a lot of mixed reviews about that,” Warner said. “But when you really look at the actual data behind it, I think it’s false. I’m not going to sit here and say a substation is the reason I got my ankle broken in half. That was a freak injury. That was a fluke.”
Warner pointed out that durability has been one of his defining traits since entering the league, noting that injuries have been the exception rather than the norm throughout his career.
“Before that injury, I had missed one game,” Warner said. “That was due to a hamstring where I stepped wrong. I’ve been super healthy for seven-plus years.”
Despite the seriousness of the topic, Warner even managed to inject some humor into the conversation.
“The substation may have given me superpowers,” he joked. “Maybe if you overdose on it, you get Hulk strength or something.”
49ers general manager John Lynch recently confirmed that the organization has evaluated the speculation and will continue to do so, emphasizing that player health remains a top priority.
“The health and safety of our players is of the utmost importance,” Lynch said. “We invest heavily in it, and our ownership does as well. We aren’t going to turn a blind eye to anything.”
Warner acknowledged that injuries have been an ongoing challenge for the team but suggested several more plausible explanations. He pointed to the 49ers’ older roster, intense practice habits, and the physical nature of football itself.
“It’s football at the end of the day,” Warner said. “It’s a 100 percent injury guarantee rate.”
As Super Bowl LX approaches, the debate surrounding the substation is unlikely to disappear. But within the 49ers’ locker room the common opinion is that injuries are part of the game, not the power grid.