Bill Simmons dubs $1.3B Eastern Conference giant as the ‘most irrelevant franchise in professional sports’

Pro sports broadcaster Bill Simmons went off the rails on the November 18 episode of his podcast, the Bill Simmons Show. The notable broadcaster lashed out at the Columbus Blue Jackets, calling them the “most irrelevant franchise in professional sports.”

The comments didn’t come off the cuff. They were followed by a lengthy explanation. In particular, Simmons highlighted the Blue Jackets' lack of success since entering the league in 2000.

He stated:

“So, they come into the league in 2000, they haven't made round two of the playoffs ever. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020, they've missed the playoffs 20 of 25 times…”

That last playoff appearance came during the 2020 bubble playoffs. Since the league had been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL had a play-in round after resuming games. The Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in a short three-game series to earn their spot.

However, the Blue Jackets, currently valued by Sportico at $1.3 billion, were bounced in five games by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Simmons concluded his thoughts by stating:

“It has to be the Columbus Blue Jackets. I can't believe how boring.”

Check out Bill Simmons’ comments from the one-hour mark onwards.

Ultimately, Bill Simmons has a point. The Blue Jackets have not enjoyed the success, however limited, that other franchises have had in the NHL and other sports.

Bill Simmons highlights painful reality for Blue Jackets fans

Bill Simmons drove home his point by engaging in a lengthy discussion on how other professional franchises in North America have had successful eras. Teams like the NBA's Chicago Bulls, the NFL's Miami Dolphins or the MLB's Cincinnati Reds have had their glory days at one point or another.

For instance, the Dolphins are the only NFL team to have a perfect season. That was back in 1972. The Reds have had a long string of forgettable seasons since their last World Series win in 1990. As for the Chicago Bulls, they haven’t been largely irrelevant in the NBA. But as Bill Simmons pointed out, the Bulls won several championships with Michael Jordan.

All told, the Columbus Blue Jackets can’t even claim to have made a Stanley Cup Final. The club hasn’t even made it out of the first round in its limited postseason appearances. As for this season, the Blue Jackets are sixth in the Metro Division entering Monday night’s action. They have 25 points and are in a three-way tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. However, their eight regulation losses push the team down in the standings.

Perhaps this season could be the year the Blue Jackets prove Simmons wrong. But it will take hard work and some good luck.