Bill Simmons shared a strong opinion about the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 18 during his show, the Bill Simmons Podcast. He said the Columbus Blue Jackets are the “most irrelevant franchise in professional sports,” and he supported that claim with clear reasons. His comments came one day after several NHL games on Monday night and quickly drew attention because the team is valued at $1.3 billion by Sportico, yet has struggled to make progress since entering the NHL in 2000.
Bill Simmons says the Columbus Blue Jackets’ history explains their lack of progress
Bill Simmons said the Columbus Blue Jackets’ difficulties are not new. In 25 seasons, he noted, the team has missed the postseason 20 times and has never advanced beyond the first round in a regular playoff season.
Their most recent appearance was during the 2020 bubble playoffs, when the league started again following the COVID-19 halt.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the play-in round but were eliminated in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the group that finally claimed the Stanley Cup.
Bill Simmons said this long history of losing makes the franchise easy to overlook in the sports world. He said other teams in North America, even if they are struggling today, have famous moments from their past.
He pointed to the Chicago Bulls winning championships with Michael Jordan, the Miami Dolphins having a perfect season in 1972, and the Cincinnati Reds winning the World Series in 1990 before their long decline.
He said the Columbus Blue Jackets do not have anything like that to show fans. Bill Simmons added, “I can’t believe how boring,” as he ended his point about the team.
Columbus Blue Jackets players are responding to Bill Simmons calling the franchise irrelevant.https://t.co/dYLWPVR5dt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 21, 2025
Bill Simmons says the current season shows the same old problems
Bill Simmons also pointed at the Blue Jackets’ play this season. With 25 points, the Columbus Blue Jackets sat sixth in the Metro Division on Monday night.
Though they are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, their eight regular losses drop them in the rankings. He said the team has excellent young players but has failed to convert that into victories.
He claimed the Columbus Blue Jackets need a genuine breakthrough if they hope sports world and their followers see them differently.
He thinks this season still presents them an opportunity, but to reverse the story about the team will demand great results and much effort.
