The three popular NBC shows, dubbedOne Chicago, will return with all-new seasons on Wednesday, July 31, 2025. Coming first are the skilled doctors at theChicago Med, with its ninth season airing at 8 p.m. ET/CT. The intelligence unit ofChicago P.D.’s District 21, on the other hand, takes the 10 p.m. ET/CT time slot. Of course, the firefighters and other rescue teams at Chicago Firehouse 51 will be gracing our television screens once again whenChicago Firereturns for Season 12 on NBC. Although news of some cast members leaving saddened most fans of the series, fan-favorite Kelly Severide will be returning for the upcoming season. With a little over a month left until the Season 12 premiere, the newly released trailer teases the highly anticipated return ofTaylor Kinney’s belovedChicago Firecharacter.
Kinney, who has starred inChicago Firesince its debut in 2012,left the NBC procedural midway through its 11th season. Although his sudden leave of absence is only temporary, Kelly Severide’s last appearance during the 14th episode ofSeason 11— titled “Run Like Hell” — left viewers wondering whether he’d follow the paths of some actors who ultimately left theOne Chicagofranchise for good. And given that the franchise has a history of cast members exiting, Kinney’s absence throughout Season 11’s subsequent episodes felt more permanent than temporary. It wasn’t until October thatVarietyfirst reported that Kelly Severide was, in fact, coming back to the firehouse, which naturally delighted longtime fans of the procedural drama.
How Was Kelly Severide Written Out During Season 11?
Considered one ofChicago Fire’s fan favorites, Kinney’s Kelly Severide was best known for his committed relationship withMiranda Rae Mayo’s Stella Kidd. The two, who got married in Season 10, had been one of the show’s focal stories until the writers had to change the script to fit the character’s absence. The show then revealed during Episode 15, titled “Damage Control,” that Kelly Severide had to leave town to attend an arson investigation in Alabama, which was an opportunity he couldn’t decline.
Other Cast Members Will Be Exiting ‘Chicago Fire’ Soon
While Kinney’s impending return marks an exciting 12th season forChicago Fire, two other fan-favorite characters will be saying goodbye to their beloved roles.Kara Kilmer, who has played paramedic Sylvie Brett since Season 3, will exit during the first half of Season 12. Moreover,Alberto Rosendewill bid farewell to his paramedic Blake Gallo rolein the upcoming Season 12 premiere.
It remains unclear at this point how their exits will play out during the Season 12 run, but you can check it out yourself whenChicago Firereturns on NBC at 9 p.m. ET/CT on January 17. All episodes will also stream on Peacock the next day. You can watch the Season 12 trailer below.
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire: Focusing on the professional and personal lives of the firefighters, paramedics, and rescue squad members of Firehouse 51, the series navigates the high-pressure situations and camaraderie that define their work, revealing the challenges and triumphs faced by these dedicated public servants.
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