George Kittle has admitted the theory surrounding a power station next to the San Francisco 49ers’ facility left him unsettled.
The tight end is the latest high-profile player to address claims linking the team’s injury problems to an electrical substation located near their practice base.
His comments come after he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during the NFC Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kittle explains what he saw during rookie season
Speculation surrounding the nearby substation intensified after researcher Peter Cowan suggested low-frequency electromagnetic fields could contribute to tendon and soft-tissue damage.
Kittle was asked about the claims and reflected on what he observed during his early years with the franchise.
“The one thing that messes me up with it, this is tough, my rookie season there used to be trees in between the substation and our practice facility.”
“There’s a fence there too, and above the fence, all the trees had no leaves on them, year-round, all dead. Nobody notices it until you point it out. I didn’t point it out to Kyle Shanahan until 2021.”
“A vet pointed it out to me my rookie season, and I was like ‘That’s kind of weird’. But then this year the NFL came in and cut them all down.”
“So they’re not there anymore, so no one can see them. So it’s only us vets that know that was the truth. I don’t think anyone talked about that yet. That one messed me up.”
49ers acknowledge investigation into theory
Kittle’s season-ending injury added further scrutiny to the claims, with the 49ers experiencing multiple injury setbacks in recent seasons.
The veteran tight end indicated the detail stayed with him long before the recent run of injuries brought renewed focus to the issue.
General manager John Lynch confirmed the organisation has examined the theory because of its potential implications for player health and safety.
The Silicon Valley Power Mission Substation sits next to the team’s Santa Clara base and has been cited in online discussions about possible environmental exposure.
Former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker has also stated there were internal concerns during his tenure with the franchise, including discussions about possible long-term health effects.
While no formal link has been established, Kittle’s remarks have ensured the debate surrounding the facility continues.
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