"Serving as chairman of the NHL's Board of Governors has been one of the greatest honors of my life, both professionally and personally," Jacobs said in a statement on Tuesday. "I was first elected to the role in 2007, and nearly 20 years later, it's well past time for me to pass the torch.
"I'm proud of what the Board of Governors, and our Commissioner, Gary Bettman, have accomplished over the last two decades. We've reached landmark media rights deals, expanded to reach fans in new geographies of North America, and have put hockey on the world stage in new markets and with marquee events, all while prioritizing making the game safer for players and more fun and accessible for fans."
Jacobs has had a distinguished career with the NHL since he acquired the Bruins and the Boston Garden in 1975 when he was just 35 years old, an ownership that has included building a new arena in Boston, the TD Garden, which is home to the Bruins and the NBA's Boston Celtics. He is the longest-tenured singular owner across the four major professional sports in North America.
But perhaps his biggest moment in hockey came in 2011, when the Bruins, under his leadership, won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972, defeating the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins would reach the Stanley Cup Final three times in the decade, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and to the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
In addition to his role as the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Jacobs has served on the League's Audit, Finance and Executive Committees since 1979.
His work in the NHL and in hockey was honored in 2017, when Jacobs was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders category. That, though, is far from his only honor. Jacobs was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, given the Hockey Legacy Award from the Sports Museum of Boston in 2012, elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, handed the Lester Patrick Trophy, presented for "outstanding service to hockey in the United States" in 2015, and named to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
"It has been one of the great privileges of my career to work alongside Jeremy Jacobs for the last 19 years as he led the Board of Governors with a rare combination of steadiness and vision," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "His wisdom and unwavering commitment to this League have helped guide us through a period of unprecedented growth, both on and off the ice. On behalf of the Board of Governors, our Clubs, and our fans, I want to express my deepest gratitude for his extraordinary service and his enduring legacy as one of the great leaders in the history of our game."
Hockey was long a part of Jacobs's life, with his family owning the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League when he was young. It came to the forefront when he bought the Bruins for approximately $10 million back in 1975, when Bobby Orr still manned the blueline for the Bruins.
Jacobs came from the world of hospitality, with the family-owned Delaware North, which he has led since 1968. Delaware North has operations in food and retail everywhere from airports to sports venues, hotels to restaurants. Three sons, out of his and wife Peggy's six children, now act as CEOs of Delaware North.
"As a player I knew of Mr. Jacobs' passion for the Bruins," Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement when news broke that Jacobs had made the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. "Over the past decade while in the front office, I have seen firsthand his dedication to winning, by consistently providing the Bruins the resources we need to compete for Stanley Cup championships and also his unmatched commitment to growing the game of hockey."
Jacobs has overseen an impressive run for the Bruins, with the team making the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 42 of his 50 seasons with the franchise. He has also overseen an impressive run for the NHL as a whole, with the League adding two franchises (the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken) during his tenure as Chairman and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that took effect on Sept. 16 and is set to run through Sept. 15, 2030.
"I succeeded the great Harley Hotchkiss following a challenging labor dispute, and in the subsequent years, and because of that shared difficult experience, owners and players found common ground and forged a great partnership," Jacobs added in his statement, of the Flames owner, who had been Chairman for the 12 years before he took over. "Together, we have achieved a level of parity and stability that will help the league grow and prosper for generations to come."
Now, Leonsis will succeed him.
"Looking forward, I can't think of a better successor than Ted Leonsis, a highly regarded and accomplished owner on the forefront of innovation," Jacobs's statement continued. "Ted is the right person to help chart a course for the future of hockey. Perhaps most importantly, Ted is a passionate hockey fan who greatly values the NHL's ability to positively impact communities.
"Murray Edwards, who understand the game and complexities of the modern League as well as anyone, and who has been a great partner as my vice chairman, will continue to serve in the role and support Ted as he takes the helm. I look forward to serving on the Board of Governors under their leadership.
"I want to thank my fellow owners, past and present, for the honor of serving as your chairman. Go Bruins."
