Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness re-signed after rant. See reactions
Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness received a contract extension days after a viral tirade criticizing his team's effort.
It's been a roller-coaster week for the Blue Jackets and their fans . After falling out of the playoff race and losing their final game against the Washington Capitals, Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness had a viral postgame tirade in which he called out his players' lack of effort and discussed a desire to change the organization's culture if he returned. Two days later, Bowness agreed to a contract extension with the Blue Jackets through the 2026-27 season.
Taking over as coach after Dean Evason's firing , Bowness led the Blue Jackets to a 21-11-5 record, taking the Blue Jackets from last place in the Eastern Conference to as high as the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division. Despite the high hopes, the Blue Jackets finished the season with a 3-9-1 record in their last 13 games.
Needing to earn points to challenge the Flyers for the final playoff spot, the Blue Jackets lost 3-2 to the Boston Bruins in regulation. The Flyers won in overtime against the Hurricanes on April 14, clinching the spot and eliminating the Blue Jackets from the playoffs before their season finale. See analysis and fan reactions about Rick Bowness' postgame rant and eventual contract extension below.
Congrats to our old friend Coach Bones for winning our TNT "Rant of the Year" award 😭 pic. twitter. com/bhz5Arkzsd — NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 15, 2026 Rick Bowness walking into exit meetings after getting his contract extension https://t.