Bob McElligott, former radio voice of the Blue Jackets, took to social media July 31 to issue comments after the team's recent decision to not renew his contract.
McElligott, who declined an interview request from The Dispatch on July 30, handled radio play-by-play calls for the Blue Jackets the past 17 years. The Jackets' plan moving forward is to simulcast their TV broadcast called by Steve Mears and analyst Jody Shelley.
Two words pic.twitter.com/BPOTrUIHNG
— Bob McElligott (@BobbyMacSports) July 31, 2026
The Blue Jackets will also shift to the NHL producing their TV broadcasts but haven't issued specifics about what format fans will need to watch them.
After releasing a statement following the Blue Jackets' announcement July
29 that he won't return, McElligott has now posted a video on his Twitter/X account that's aimed at fans who've shown support and outrage following the decision.
"Well, it's been a tough week, but I just wanted to take a minute to express my gratitude and appreciation to you for all the nice things that you've said to me and about me on social media in the last couple of days," McElligott said. "You know, every night when you sit down behind a microphone, you have no idea who you're talking to. Heck, some nights, you don't know if you're talking to anybody at all. But what I've learned this week is that I've been talking to a lot of people and that I've had an effect on a lot of people."
— Bob McElligott (@BobbyMacSports) July 29, 2026
After vowing to be "back and doing something else," at some point, McElligott ended the video with an ode to his usual way to celebrate Blue Jackets wins. ("I've got two words for ya! Game over!" he would exclaim.)
"In the meantime," he said in his recorded statement to fans, "I'm going to end this the only way I know how. I got two words for ya! Thank you."
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bob McElligott shares message to fans after Columbus Blue Jackets exit
