Who are the worst owners in sports today? We’re not talking historically. That list would go about 2,000 deep. But with what’s happening with the MLB’s Oakland Athletics and owner John Fisher, we figured it made sense to take a look.
We’re checking in on the four major professional sports leagues in North America. By ranking these terrible owners, we look at team performance. Off-field components also play a role as does the willingness to spend and conterversies some have been involved in. Without further ado, we present the 10 worst owners in sports.
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10. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Off the field, Jones has built the most-valuable franchise in North American sports history. He purchased the team for a mere $140 million back in 1989, only to see it worth $9 billion right now. The first half-decade or so of Jones tenure saw Dallas win three Super Bowl titles. So, why is he on the list of the worst owners in sports? It’s rather simple. This team has not earned a trip to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season. They have won all of four playoff spots during that span while going through six head coaches. Did we mention Jones fired the great Jimmy Johnson after he led the ‘Boys to back-to-back Super Bowl titles? How fun.
9. John Sherman, Kansas City Chiefs (MLB)
Sherman purchased the Royals during the 2019 MLB season from then-owner David Glass. He was previously a minority owner for the Cleveland Guardians. In his four seasons as Kansas City’s owner ahead of the 2024 campaign, Kansas City posted a combined 221-325 record. While the Royals are spending more with Sherman at the helm compared to Glass, it has not been good enough.
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8. Dean Spanos, Los Angeles Chargers
The situation leading up to these Chargers relocating from San Diego to Los Angeles back in 2017 painted Spanos is a terrible light. His refusal to work with city leaders in San Diego caused a vibrant fan base to lose its team. Playing three seasons in a Dignity Health Sports Park with a capacity of 27,000 before SoFi was ready added another layer to this. The Chargers have also won all of two playoff games since the end of the 2009 season, seeing six head coaches overseeing the team in the process. Boy, that’s ugly.
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7. Hasso Plattner, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
“You cannot make money off a hockey team.” These were the words of the Sharks’ owner back in 2013. If you’re looking to get into this business to make money, you’re already going to be one of the worst owners in sports. Since taking over ownership of San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises 12 years ago, he’s been considered an absentee owner. It does not help that Plattner is worth north of $13 billion and is overseeing an organization that has posted a 121-195-49 record since the start of the 2019-20 season. Prior to Plattner taking over, San Jose had made the playoffs 14 times in its previous 15 seasons.
6. Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns (NFL)
Where to start with Haslam? He took over control of the Browns seven games into the 2012 NFL season after acting the part of a minority owner for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Under his “leadership,” Cleveland went on to post a combined 1-31 record in 2016 and 2017. His Pilot Flying J company was involved in a fraud investigation that led to it having to pay out $92 million to customers. Meanwhile, Haslam signed off on the blockbuster trade of embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson ahead of the 2022 season despite allegations by north of two dozen women of sexual misconduct. Watson then signed a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract ahead of the 2022 season and has played in all of 12 games since. Yeah, Haslam is one of the worst owners in sports.
5. Arte Moreno, Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
Oh boy. Since purchasing the Angels back in 2003, this organization has been on a downward spiral. The MLB team has not made the playoffs since all the way back in 2015. This is despite the fact that it has boasted one of the best players in modern history since 2011 in Mike Trout. Heck, Trout teamed up with Shohei Ohtani from 2018-23. What makes matters even crazier here is the fact that Angels fans were happy to learn back in 2012 that Moreno had put the team up for sale. He backtracked and took them off the market last year. Moreno is the definition of one of the worst owners in sports. That can’t be debated.
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4. Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
How in the world do you have one of the greatest players in NBA history in that of LeBron James for 11 seasons and only win one title. Sure, the Golden State Warriors played a role in that. But some of the Cavs teams Gilbert ran out there in James’ first tenure with the team were just a disaster class. Gilbert is the one common denominator in the Cavaliers’ inability to build a dynasty during James’ tenure with the organization. It makes him one of the worst owners in sports.
3. David Tepper, Carolina Panthers (NFL)
Daniel Snyder 2.0? An argument can certainly be made for that. Tepper’s reputation since taking over as Carolina’s owner from the disgraced Jerry Richardson back in 2018 is not great. Since then, the Panthers have not earned a single playoff appearance. They’ve boasted a whopping seven head coaches. You read that right. Seven. Reports have surfaced of a “toxic workplace environment” under Tepper. All the while, he was fined $300,000 this past December by the NFL for legitimately throwing a drink at a fan.
2. James Dolan, New York Knicks (NBA)
Dolan could seriously be considered public enemy No. 1 in New York City. Since taking control of the Knicks back in 1999, Dolan has been criticized by former NBA Commissioner David Stern, found himself in major spats with former Knicks greats, been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault. After making the playoffs 10 consecutive seasons and earning three NBA Finals appearances prior to Dolan’s arrival on the scene, these Knicks have missed the postseason more than they’ve made it with him at the helm. This makes Dolan one of the worst owners in sports. He’s also among the most unlikeable.
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1. John Fisher, Oakland Athletics (MLB)
A disaster of epic proportions. A black eye that will haunt both Fisher and MLB for the foreseeable future. What he did in forcing the A’s from Oakland after 57 years will not soon be forgotten. City officials are partly to blame. But we’re talking about a silver spoon-fed billionaire who rode his family’s coattails to ownership of the Athletics. Since, he’s stripped the team down for parts. He’s begged for hundreds of millions in public financing in Las Vegas. He’s now prepared to play the next three seasons in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento with the hopes that the Vegas stadium project actually goes through. Did we mention that the A’s are 110-214 since the start of the 2022 season while boasting the smallest payroll in baseball and an attendance figure of less than 7,000 right now?
