Grant Cohn Interviews Dr. Alex Cowan

In recent years, the San Francisco 49ers have faced persistent questions about their unusually high injury rates, particularly when it comes to soft-tissue injuries. While football injuries are inherently multifactorial - involving collisions, training load, recovery, and bad luck - a recent discussion has introduced a new angle that’s generating curiosity among fans and analysts alike.

On a recent episode hosted by Grant Cohn, a scientist, Dr. Alexis Cowan, joined the show to explore a possible environmental factor tied to the 49ers’ practice facility: its proximity to a large electrical substation. The conversation examined whether chronic exposure to elevated electromagnetic fields (EMFs) could contribute to metabolic stress, impaired recovery, and increased tissue vulnerability over time.

The discussion draws on decades of research into mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, and tissue hydration - areas that some researchers believe are underappreciated in elite sports performance and injury prevention. The argument is not that EMFs directly cause injuries, but that long-term exposure could create a biological environment where players are more susceptible to breakdown, slower healing, and recurring issues.

The topic has surfaced this week during Super Bowl Media Row, where 49ers owner Jed York was asked about the theory and largely dismissed it on Kay Adams’ show, noting that the team has practiced at the site since 1987 and that players like Jerry Rice never appeared to have an issue. Critics of that response point out that while the facility’s location hasn’t changed, the electrical substation itself has. Since the late 1980s, the substation has expanded dramatically to support Silicon Valley’s explosive growth, now serving major tech companies and data centers and operating at a scale far beyond what existed decades ago.

Notably, the broader topic of non-native electromagnetic exposure has also been discussed by Dr. Tom Cowan, who has spoken publicly about its potential biological effects. While these ideas remain controversial and far from universally accepted, supporters argue they warrant closer examination rather than outright dismissal, particularly given the 49ers’ long-running injury concerns.

To be clear, no definitive causal link has been proven, and injuries in the NFL will always be complex. Still, the interview presents an unconventional perspective that challenges conventional thinking and encourages deeper discussion around recovery, environment, and long-term player health.

For those interested in the science - or simply curious about an alternative explanation for a long-running issue - the interview is well worth watching in full. Regardless of where you land on the conclusions, it offers thoughtful insights and raises questions that merit consideration.