Chicago Fire has weathered multiple cast exits ahead of season 15 — but is Taylor Kinney returning to the show?
As season 14 of the hit NBC series came to an end in early 2026, Deadline confirmed that Kinney, 45, secured a new deal to keep leading Chicago Fire as Kelly Severide. Negotiations began after One Chicago — the TV universe which includes Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. — were renewed for more seasons. The outlet noted that Kinney was the last of the group to close his deal.
Kinney is an OG cast member, making his first appearance when the show debuted in 2012. He previously stepped back for a temporary “leave of absence” during season 11 in January 2023. On screen, Severide went to Alabama to help participate in an arson investigation training program.
A source close to production told Us at the time that Kinney was leaving to deal with a personal matter. Kinney ultimately returned to Chicago Fire for the start of season 12 later that year.
The One Chicago franchise has made headlines over the years as cast members often come and go across all three shows. Before season 15 of Chicago Fire, multiple outlets confirmed that Joe Miñoso was leaving the hit NBC series, but he is still expected to appear in several episodes when the show returns.
Showrunner Andrea Newman also exited after spending more than a decade behind the scenes.
Newman, who worked on Chicago Fire for its entire 14-season run, confirmed her departure in April, with co-executive producer Victor Teran taking over the role. Newman joined Chicago Fire after the pilot as co-executive producer before being promoted to executive producer. She was then named co-showrunner and became the sole showrunner in 2023.
“Working at Chicago Fire, with the absolute best cast and crew in the business, has been the highlight of my career,” Newman said in a statement. “Like so many others, I was inspired to get into TV writing because of Dick [Wolf], so what a thrill it’s been to work with him and the amazing Wolf team of Peter Jankowski, Rebecca McGill and Anastasia Puglisi. I’m so grateful to them, Derek Haas and the NBC and Universal execs who have been so supportive of the show all along the way. After 14 years, you really do become a family and working with this group will always feel like home.”
Jankowski, meanwhile, released a separate statement, which read, “We’re sad to say goodbye to Andrea. She’s been at the center of the heart and soul of Chicago Fire since the beginning, and the show thrived under her watch. We’re grateful for her commitment to the development of the next generation and know the show will be in great hands with Victor taking the reins.”
News later broke that Dermot Mulroney is also leaving following his brief return in the season 14 finale earlier this year. Mulroney’s Dom Pascal was noticeably missing for several episodes throughout the season, with Rob Morgan (Andre Hopkins) taking over his position as chief at Firehouse 51.
