Overview
- Metcalf told The Athletic on Tuesday that he is “a big conspiracy theorist” and that he believes Antarctica is “another world” with “another civilization inside of Earth.”
- He pointed to restricted access and questioned why people cannot simply book trips to Antarctica as part of his reasoning.
- Multiple outlets reported the interview and noted that tourism to Antarctica does occur seasonally, that there are no commercial airports on the continent, and that governments and the Antarctic Treaty System tightly regulate access.
- Hours after Metcalf’s interview, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw publicly asked Australians whether Antarctica is “a lie,” showing the idea spreading informally among NFL players.
- Journalists traced the claim to long‑running Hollow Earth lore and unverified Admiral Richard Byrd stories, and experts quoted in coverage rejected the theory as unsubstantiated while noting the remarks have drawn wide public and media attention ahead of the NFL season.