Deadline broke the news that Lockett, who plays Sam Carver, and Kyri, who plays Darren Ritter, would not be returning for Chicago Fire Season 14 on April 16, 2025, the same day that former cast member Eamonn Walker made his return as Chief Wallace Boden. Walker, who left Chicago Fire in Season 12, returned in a guest capacity and not as a series regular.
News of Carver and Ritter’s exits also came amid speculation that Chicago Fire was also writing off Chief Dom Pascal, played by Dermot Mulroney, who replaced Boden as the new chief of Firehouse 51 in Season 13. The speculation came after Season 13, Episode 18, “Post-Mortem,” saw Pascal doubt his place at Firehouse 51 after he compared the decisions he made as chief with the decisions Captain Christopher Herrmann — who Boden wanted as chief before his exit — would have made if he were in the role. The episode also came on the heels of the death of Pascal’s wife, Monica, who died in a car accident earlier in Season 13.
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Why is Jake Lockett leaving Chicago Fire?
According to Deadline, Lockett and Kyri’s exits are a part of Wolf Entertainment and NBC’s effort to reduce its budget for Chicago Fire Season 14. The network first cut costs in 2023 when Deadline reported that NBC had reduced the number of episodes for longtime cast members on Wolf Entertainment shows like Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime to save money.
Two years later, it looks like NBC is trimming even more budget. According to Deadline, Chicago Fire‘s decision to let go of Lockett and Kyri also came as the show is set to negotiate with the series’ many remaining veteran cast members, whose contracts are up at the end of Season 13. Deadline also reported that there could be more exits across the One Chicago franchise, as well as Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, as more cast renegotiations and renewal talks happen between NBC and Universal Television.
Sources also told Deadline that Chicago Fire is still filming at the time news broke of Lockett and Kyri’s exits, which means that it’s possible for Carver and Ritter to get a proper goodbye in Season 13.
Kyri joined Chicago Fire in Season 7 in a recurring role before he was promoted to a series regular in Season 9. Much of Ritter’s storyline so far has revolved around his sexuality as the only gay firefighter at Firehouse 51. Season 13 saw him break up with his boyfriend, Office Dwayne Monroe, because Ritter wasn’t ready to move in with him.
Lockett, for his part, joined Chicago Fire in Season 11 and was promoted to a series regular in Season 13. Carver’s storyline mainly revolved around his relationship with paramedic Violet Mikami, whom he broke up with in Season 12. The split led to his relapse and reunion with his toxic ex-girlfriend.
