49ers will research power substation and consider Mac Jones offers, GM says
The key decision-makers for the San Francisco 49ers addressed the electrical substation internet controversy — or perhaps conspiracy — that’s become a talking point in recent weeks as the team dealt with a slew of injuries throughout 2025.
“Because it deals with, allegedly, the health and safety of our players, you have to look into everything,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said Wednesday.
The issue stems from a thread on X posted by Peter Cowan alleging electromagnetic fields from the electrical substation directly next to the team’s practice facility can “degrade collagen, weaken tendons and cause soft-tissue damage at levels regulators call “safe.” The post as of Wednesday had more than 22 million views and the topic has been written about extensively all over the internet, including in a piece in the Washington Post.
The theory has gained traction because San Francisco has been among the most injured teams in the NFL in recent seasons, and lost stars such as Nick Bosa to a torn ACL, Fred Warner to a dislocated and fractured ankle, and George Kittle to an Achilles tear.
The Washington Post reported players and their agents are concerned about the theory, while many scientists don’t believe the theory to be accurate. Others think there isn’t enough evidence to debunk the theory entirely.
“We’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone (asking) ‘Does a study exist?’” Lynch said. “Other than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath a fence and coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means. That’s what we know exists — we’ve heard that debunked. So, yes, we’ll look into it.
“The health and safety of our players is of the utmost priority. We pour into it. Our ownership, Jed (York), is tremendous in terms of resources, and we’ll always be cognizant of things. ... We aren’t going to turn a blind eye. We’ll look into everything.”
Lynch and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan spoke for nearly 40 minutes about the 2025 season and what’s ahead during, dedicating a solid chunk of it to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, of whom Lynch said: “It’s safe to say he’s played his last snap with the Niners.”
Here are other takeaways from the end-of-season news conference.
A leading candidate for defensive coordinator?
The 49ers will be looking for a new defensive coordinator for the fifth consecutive offseason now that Robert Saleh is leaving to become the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Saleh returned to San Francisco for his second stint as defensive coordinator after getting fired as the head coach of the New York Jets following 2024. He helped the 49ers field a competent defense despite missing Bosa, Warner and first-round draft pick Mykel Williams to season-ending injuries.
Shanahan indicated there’s a clear leader in the clubhouse to become Saleh’s replacement.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a real wide net,” Shanahan said. “Gus (Bradley) is the obvious (candidate) to everyone and is for us too. Gus would be the main internal candidate. Would feel very fortunate to get Gus and great about that. But also, we’re going to go through the whole process. (There are) requirements we have to do and stuff that we want to do also. So hopefully we can get it settled sooner than later.”
The 49ers will have to comply with the Rooney Rule before making any hire, meaning they will have interview minority candidates outside of Bradley, who worked as an assistant head coach and advisor to Saleh on the defensive staff last season.
Bradley has 12 years of experience as a defensive coordinator, beginning with the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense under Pete Carroll from 2009 to 2012.
Will the 49ers trade Mac Jones?
There may not be a single player who helped the 49ers stay above water more than their backup quarterback in 2025.
That’s because the team went 5-3 with Mac Jones as the starter while Brock Purdy dealt with turf toe. Players and teammates have said Jones was arguably the most important figure in helping the team finish 12-5 and reach the playoffs despite the injuries on offense and defense.
Jones joined the 49ers last offseason on a two-year, $7 million contract, and could conceivably have significant trade value if Shanahan and Lynch wanted to capitalize on his strong season.
“Mac made this place better. He was outstanding this season,” Lynch said. “He picked us up in a huge way, and it was a really fun process to watch him come in and the joy that he was playing with. He’s got an infectious attitude that affects everybody in our team.”
There’s precedent to 49ers backups having success elsewhere. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold parlayed a backup role with San Francisco into the starting job with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, helping the team finish 14-3 with a playoff berth. He then signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle and has guided the team as least as far as this coming Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
“You always listen (to trade offers),” Lynch said. “But I know we’re a better football team with Mac Jones on our roster.”
Lynch made the key point: The 49ers have always been open to trading their players for the right price. And it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the team to consider Jones for a draft pick in the spring.
Adding team speed in the offseason
The “YAC Bros” are a thing of the past.
The 49ers in recent seasons used to be among the league leaders in yards after the catch, but their team has slowed down considerably on offense in 2025.
The team had just three catches on 10 targets to receivers in the divisional round loss to the Seahawks, and finished just 15th on the season with 1,897 yards after the catch in 2025. Their average separation from defenders 28th in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats, at just 3.2 yards. It’s a far cry from what Shanahan has looked for in his offenses in the past.
“Yes, definitely,” Shanahan said about making speed a priority in the offseason. “Being fast helps. Being good helps. There are lots of ways to do it, but you’d love it balanced out perfectly with your whole team, offensively, defensively special teams.
“But we definitely know, noticeably, we’re slower this year than we have been in years past. But sometimes that’s substituted for a better football player. That doesn’t mean you’re always worse because of that. But you definitely need more speed out there to handle things week in and week out, for some of the situations that come up, for certain schemes and certain defense. Offenses too.”
