The 49ers have put the electrical substation theory to bed, but it’s clear their opponents for the upcoming 2026 NFL season haven’t.
San Francisco and its fans had to know the jokes were coming after their injury-dominated 2025 season — and nearby substation — made headlines, and teams throughout the league didn’t disappoint with this year’s crop of NFL schedule release videos.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers win this competition every season, and their “Halo” video this year was no different.
Check out the 4:24 mark below to see their take on playing the 49ers in Week 15.
should we REALLY make our schedule release video in halo?
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yes yes yesyes pic.twitter.com/eusK9QmNGd
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 14, 2026
“Survive one practice” is wild.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ “Tyler Intelligence Agency” enlisted some special agents for top secret missions this season, and oddly went with San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle as their choice for their Week 10 clash with the 49ers.
His goal? To “increase player paranoia related to electrical substation activities.”
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 14, 2026
Mahle’s mission is surrounded by some pretty humorous background info.
Seattle Seahawks
The 49ers’ top NFC West rival fashioned their schedule release like a perfume ad, and San Francisco smells like “substation” according to the Seahawks.
You can see the “ad” at the 1:00 mark below.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are serving up a “Silicon Valley Special” on the Week 11 menu ahead of their game against the 49ers in Mexico City.
“Bay Area bytes, still in beta,” the video says below, at the 2:34 mark.
Note: This one might not have been substation-related, but it looked electrical enough to make our list.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams made a “Napoleon Dynamite” themed schedule release video, and the 49ers are referenced at the 1:54 mark.
“The Electromagnetic Field” written by Dr. Nothingburger is a clear nod to 49ers general manager/president of football operations John Lynch, who referred to the theory as such after hiring some experts to look into the substation’s connection to San Francisco’s injuries.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders had a layup to poke fun at the 49ers with their science fair video.
At the 1:16 mark, a project shows “Substation Gate 2026,” complete with plenty of memes.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles made the joke themselves rather than taking the artistic route, with Philadelphia players recording a blind reaction video to their 2026 schedule.
When they got to the 49ers (9:43 mark), defensive tackle Jordan Davis put it bluntly.
“Back to Electric Avenue,” he said, prompting a pause from his teammates before they began to laugh after understanding the joke.
The 49ers certainly have had a good sense of humor — and, at times, took the potential issue seriously — as the substation near their practice facility made waves throughout the league.
But as the season begins, they’ll be looking to get the last laugh against all of these opponents.
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