For over a decade, NBC’s One Chicago shows have been a regular part of Wednesday nights. It all started with Chicago Fire then came Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. It is a TV powerhouse that keeps people watching. Now NBC has started telling us their plans for the 2025-2026 season. This includes what is happening with the three Chicago shows. So what is the word on the show that started it all? Well, it looks like another cast shake-up is coming for these firefighters. This is not the first time this has happened to the cast. Let us get into everything we know about Chicago Fire season 14 from its possible cast to a premiere date and more.
The latest seasons of Chicago Fire Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med all wrapped up on May 21. They had some major dramatic moments. There was a special three-hour crossover event for the One Chicago universe. Showrunner Andrea Newman told The Hollywood Reporter that it felt like a movie. She said the look of it was gorgeous and it was a very emotional piece. Another big addition to the Chicago Fire cast was Dermot Mulroney who joined as Chief Dom Pascal. The finales kept up with big personal moments for the characters like Hannah's surprise pregnancy on Chicago Med and Kim Burgess's wedding on Chicago P.D. All this means there is plenty to talk about when the show returns.
Understanding The Upcoming Departures From Firehouse 51 For The Next Season
What The Confirmed Exits Of Darren Ritter And Sam Carver Mean For The Team
Good news first: Chicago Fire is indeed coming back for a 14th season. Both Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med also got the green light for new episodes. They will keep their Wednesday night slot in the fall. The One Chicago franchise has kept strong ratings. Chicago Fire and Chicago Med even made it into the top 10 most-watched non-sports broadcast shows. This success probably played a big part in their renewal. NBC stated that the franchise reached over 45 million total viewers. This counts both the network and its streaming service Peacock.
Now for the difficult news. When Chicago Fire returns for season 14 at least two members will not be at Firehouse 51. In April 2025, reports came out that Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett would no longer be regular cast members. They play firefighters Darren Ritter and Sam Carver. These changes are reportedly because of efforts to cut the production budget. Kyri joined Chicago Fire in season 7. Lockett came in during season 11. They have been a part of Truck 81 led by Lieutenant Stella Kidd. Their departure means new characters will need to come in or there will be some shifts around Firehouse 51.
This news came not long after the 2025 One Chicago crossover event. Both Ritter and Carver played a part in it. The actors have not said much about how they will be written out. Neither NBC nor Wolf Entertainment has shared new information about their final stories either. There has not been much setup for their exits. The official story for the Chicago Fire season 13 finale "It Had to End This Way" does not mention Ritter or Carver leaving. So we are left wondering how exactly their stories will conclude.
Showrunner Andrea Newman Discusses The Uncertain Futures Of Departing Characters
Hinting That These Goodbyes Might Not Be Permanent For The Firehouse 51 Crew
Fans were worried that because there was no setup for their exits, Ritter or Carver or both could be killed off in the Chicago Fire season 13 finale. Luckily that was not the case. Both characters survived. However, the episode did not clearly set up their exits either. Showrunner Andrea Newman said this was a bit on purpose. She explained that their characters have come and gone and come back over 13 seasons. She noted that there is still much to be figured out with those two characters. "We love the actors, we love the characters, and we want to give them some good, surprising moments and goodbyes, and then maybe hellos later down the line," Newman told TVLine.
Even though fans know Kyri will not be returning, the Chicago Fire season 13 finale did not even hint at Ritter leaving the show. The only way it would make sense for Ritter to leave is if he was affected by budget cuts from the CFD mentioned a few episodes ago. But those budget cuts were about retirement offers for older firefighters like Mouch and Herrmann who are still around. So it does not really make sense for Ritter.
Carver’s departure creates an even bigger puzzle. He did have a built-in exit telling Violet Mikami he was transferring to Denver. He said he did not think he could stay sober in Chicago. But then the season ended with Carver saying he was in love with Violet and kissing her. That certainly does not feel like a goodbye. The reality of real-life budget cuts means Carver and Ritter will not be back full-time next season. So will Carver go to Denver even after telling Violet he loves her? Or will he stay and move to another firehouse allowing their relationship to grow off-screen with only guest appearances? Neither option is ideal. But both are better than killing off another man Violet cares about.
In the finale "It Had to End This Way" Severide (Taylor Kinney) put his job on the line to help someone. Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) had to deal with Natalie's complicated relationship with her sister. Herrmann (David Eigenberg) prepared to take the Chief test. And Stella revealed to her husband Kelly Severide that she is pregnant. These major plot points show that even with cast changes the show will continue with high-stakes personal stories.
The Importance Of Bringing In New Talent While Honoring The Show's Core Characters
Why Chicago Fire Needs To Evolve While Keeping Its Long-Time Favorites
Ritter and Carver are supporting characters but they have their own appeal. Over the years they have had personal stories woven into the happenings at Firehouse 51. They have also made strong connections with the rest of the squad. Because of how much the cast of Chicago Fire has changed there is a natural affection for characters who have been on the show a long time. People feel emotionally invested in Firehouse 51 members like Mouch McHolland Christopher Herrmann Kidd and Severide. This investment is probably a main reason viewers keep coming back.
However Chicago Fire also needs to grow. It cannot do that by relying on the same characters again and again. This does not mean the show should get rid of its long-time actors. But it does need to develop new characters that people can follow. This way the show can stay fresh while making sure its fan base is not only devoted to a small group of Firehouse 51 members. Ritter and Carver could have been part of that new wave of characters. Their stories had more to tell.
It is very unlikely that the decision on Carver and Ritter’s immediate future will change. Since both actors did not say they are leaving on their own terms it is possible they are being written out as part of cost-cutting. Chicago Fire usually does not bring back departing characters unless it is for a guest appearance. This happened when Matt Casey came back for his wedding to Brett and when Chief Wallace Boden returned to investigate a fire. Unless things change that might be the extent of Ritter and Carver’s future in the show. This would be a shame for many viewers.
What To Expect From Chicago Fire Season 14's Premiere And Beyond
Looking Ahead To The New Season And Where To Catch All The Action
As of now, exact release dates for the new seasons of Chicago Fire Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med have not been announced. But the three shows will come back in the fall. They will be part of NBC's 2025-2026 schedule. The One Chicago franchise will return to its Wednesday night slot airing back-to-back starting at 8 PM ET on NBC. This means you can keep your Wednesday nights booked for more fire station drama and emotional moments.
For those who prefer streaming, Chicago Fire and the other One Chicago shows are also available on Peacock. This gives you flexibility to watch new episodes or catch up on old ones whenever you want. So even if you cannot watch live you will not miss out on the action. The changes in the cast are a part of TV production. But the core spirit of Firehouse 51 seems to remain. It will be interesting to see how the team adapts to the new dynamics. I am sure fans will be tuning in to see who steps up to fill the gaps left by Ritter and Carver.
Despite the departures the show’s main stars Taylor Kinney as Lt. Kelly Severide David Eigenberg as Captain Christopher Herrmann Miranda Rae Mayo as Lt. Stella Kidd Dermot Mulroney as Chief Dom Pascal Christian Stolte as Randy “Mouch” McHolland Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami and Jocelyn Hudon as Lizzy Novak are expected to return for season 14. This provides a strong foundation for the show to continue its stories. I am looking forward to seeing how they navigate these new challenges and what new characters might join the team. It is never a dull moment at Firehouse 51.