NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s Heartwarming Tribute To Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs Confirmed md24

NCIS: Tony & Ziva stars perform a heartwarming tribute to franchise legend Mark Harmon. Harmon is a legend of the NCIS franchise, having played the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the JAG spinoff from 2003 to 2021. He also portrayed the character in the NCIS spinoff shows NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Origins.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva is an upcoming spinoff set to debut on Paramount+ in September and stars long-running NCIS veteran Michael Weatherly, alongside Cote De Pablo. Promoting their upcoming show, the duo, both of whom have worked with Harmon in the past, revealed a heartwarming tribute to their friend and co-star.

Per EW, Weatherly, De Pablo, and showrunner Jack McNamara attended the San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where the actors shared a private joke — a gesture that saw arms raised, fists balled, and swiveling, and both confirmed it was a reference to NCIS legend Harmon.

Weatherly revealed it was… “his sign language thing from an episode,” while De Pablo talked about how it was “such a great memory.” De Pablo elaborated, discussing how it was a tribute to Gibbs, who used it to communicate with them on a bus together, and they have replicated it since. Check out her explanation below:

“It was a tribute to Gibbs. I think we were in a school, right? On a bus. There was a camera, and he was sort of communicating with us. He felt no one was watching him. So since that moment, every time Michael and I — we could be anywhere in the world — and I’ll just go (performs the hand gesture) and we know.”

What This Means For Harmon’s NCIS Influence

His Legacy Is As Strong As Ever

Harmon might have left NCIS in 2021, but his legacy and impact on the franchise cannot be overstated. Last year, Harmon reprised his role in the prequel series NCIS: Origins, which he narrates and executive produces. Beyond that, however, it’s clear that his legacy continues to stay with Weatherly and de Pablo, who worked with him for years in the flagship.

Showrunner John McNamara squashes the biggest threat to NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s success ahead of the anticipated spinoff’s premiere on Paramount+.

The fact that they have a private in-joke that is also a reference to Harmon is lovely to see, and suggests that he remains a big part of their lives. Whether or not Harmon might be involved in NCIS: Tony & Ziva in some capacity is unclear, but this is not something that should be ruled out as a possibility.

Our Take On De Pablo & Weatherly’s Tribute

It’s A Heartwarming Window Into Their Relationship

One of the other things that is really lovely about de Pablo and Weatherly’s Harmon tribute is that it shows the strength of the bond they have as well. It’s a reminder of their long history in NCIS — something that the spinoff will balance with new material to cater to both long-time and new fans.

With NCIS: Tony & Ziva’s impending release, it’s great to see how close the two leading actors are, and the fact they have inside jokes together is a sign they’ve lost none of their chemistry. Having played their characters for upwards of 20 years now, the duo seems closer than ever, and this bodes well for NCIS: Tony & Ziva‘s success.