Even if the Levi’s Stadium-electrical plant injury theories have been debunked, Trey McBride believes the San Francisco 49ers may have an issue on their hands.
The Arizona Cardinals tight end spoke about the theory and said the injury-related conspiracy theory may deter free agents from signing with the Niners.
The theory, which was popularized by Peter Cowan, is the 49ers are one of the most injured NFL teams due to the fact Levi’s Stadium is adjacent to a an electrical substation, which creates soft-tissue and ligament injuries.
Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl 60 between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on Sunday.
Trey McBride Thinks the 49ers Will Struggle To Sign Free Agents Due to Injury Perceptions
The Niners have been one of the most injured teams in the NFL since the Santa Clara-based Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014. But they have had no trouble winning games, making the Super Bowl twice and qualifying for the playoffs five times in 12 years in that span.
Yet, McBride, who has not suited up for a postseason game since joining the Cardinals in 2022, thinks that could change if perceptions don’t change.
“I think that’s something that would deter people away from coming here, or vice versa, if it’s not an issue, it would bring people in,” McBride told the San Francisco Chronicle. “But I think it’s something that needs to be looked at. … Obviously it’s gotten a lot more traction recently, so hopefully they will study it and get it figured out soon.”
Naysayers have pushed back against Cowan, due to the fact the Niners have practiced near the substation for almost 40 years and have only recently been bitten by the injury bug. They cite Kyle Shanahan’s bruising, physical philosophy and bad luck.
Still, McBride has his doubts.
“Honestly, I just know being that close to it cannot be beneficial for your body,” McBride added. “So if anything, it’s a negative thing that they have there.”
Educated NFL Players Have Mixed Opinions About The Levi’s Stadium-EMF Issue
Perception will be what affects players. So even though McBride’s opinion is important, he also has a stake in the Niners signing free agents since his Cardinals share a division with San Francisco.
Yet, the Chronicle also spoke with Patriots long snapper Julian Ashby, who majored in astrophysics at Furman University in South Carolina, and he is less concerned about the issue.
“There was an exercise we did once talking about radiation and electromagnetic fields, comparing everything to how much of that radiation you could get out of the banana,” Ashby said. “So for using the banana scale, it kind of lowers my fears a little bit.”
With the Super Bowl in Santa Clara this weekend, the Seahawks and Patriots are subjecting themselves to injury. Seattle, which won 13-3 over the Niners in Week 18 and is back in NorCal for the second time in six weeks, is hoping to escape without catastrophic injury, which former 49ers and current Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert said.
“I was around that substation a lot last year,” Saubert said. “I mean, we joke around about it. I don’t know if there’s any actual merit to the science. I won’t pretend to know. But, hopefully, we can make it out [of the Super Bowl] in one piece.”
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