Romances have run high in the Windy City since Chicago Fire’s 2012 debut and the addition of Chicago P.D. in 2014 and Chicago Med in 2015.
Whether you spent years pining over Casey and Dawson and were heartbroken when they divorced, or you counted down to Natalie and Will’s wedding only to be heartbroken by her bloody dress, even the fan-favorite relationships are definitely rocky! (Proof: The two couples just mentioned actually hooked up after those events!)
Some couples definitely work better than others — something the creative teams are well aware of. “That’s how they are in real life. They’re hilarious together in a way that they’re not with other people. They just have this magic,” Chicago Fire cocreator Derek Haas told Us Weekly in 2019 when referring to Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo, who portray couple Severide and Stella.
Scroll through the gallery below for more of the most memorable couples from the One Chicago universe:
Casey and Brett
After leaning on each other following Gabby’s (Monica Raymund) departure, Captain Casey finally started dating paramedic Brett during season 9 of Chicago Fire. The pair began a long-distance romance after Casey moved to Oregon to help raise a former firefighter friend’s two sons. The duo’s relationship consisted mainly of phone calls during season 10 after Jesse Spencer’s (who plays Casey) October 2021 exit from the series.
The couple reunited during the season 10 finale in May 2022 but decided to stop dating long distance following Stella and Severide’s wedding. However, when Casey returned during the season 11 finale to help thwart an attack on the Windy City, he realized how much Brett meant to him — and proposed during the final few seconds of the May 2023 episode. The twosome tied the knot during season 12 in 2024, marking Kara Killmer’s departure from the show.
Burgess and Ruzek
Despite each going through multiple messy relationships and first connecting when he was engaged to someone else, fans have been rooting for Burzek for a long time. The duo dated and quickly got engaged, but later she called it off since he couldn’t commit.
In season 8, they began hooking up again and she got pregnant, but they suffered a pregnancy loss. Beginning in season 9, the duo started coparenting Burgess’ adopted daughter, Makayla. During season 10, which aired in spring 2023, the pair once again hooked up and confessed that it felt “different” this time. Ruzek proposed for a third time in season 11 and Burgess said “yes.”
Kidd and Severide
While the pair were up and down for multiple seasons, he finally came to his senses during season 7; in the finale, he told her he was done messing up and it was time to be the boyfriend she deserved. The twosome got engaged during season 9 and despite some wedding day setbacks, they tied the knot on the season 10 finale in May 2022.
Natalie and Will
Manstead has had their fair share of ups and downs — from dating to getting engaged, to him calling off the wedding moments before because he was being chased down, to her shutting him out — and everything in-between.During season 6, the pair put their romance on ice after Natalie (Torrey DeVitto) left Chicago. (DeVitto, for her part, announced her official exit from the series in May 2021 at the end of season 6.)
When Will (Nick Gehlfuss) chose to turn in his lab coat during the season 8 finale, fans thought Manstead would never reunite. However, during the final moments of the May 2023 episode, Will landed in Seattle and reconnected with Natalie, serving as the perfect ending to their love story. The actor confirmed his exit from the show that same day after eight seasons.
Upton and Halstead
During season 8 of Chicago P.D., Upton and Halstead finally kissed after she told him she was offered another job in New York. The pair tied the knot in a secret ceremony during season 9. The twosome’s romance was tested during season 10 after Halstead revealed he was going to South America — following Jesse Lee Soffer‘s exit from the series in fall 2022 — for a minimum of eight weeks to fight against the drug cartels.
During season 11, Upton revealed she signed divorce papers after Halstead’s prolonged absence. The breakup didn’t come as a major surprise to fans after news broke in October 2023 that Tracy Spiridakos is leaving the show after season 11.
Platt and Mouch
This is the only crossover couple that remains strong! The duo have been solid since day one, with his playful personality and her stern tone. They even got married at Molly’s!
Donna and Boden
Seeing Boden happy is one of the highlights of Chicago Fire — and no one makes him happier than Donna and their adorable son. Plus, she has a firefighter calendar of him.
Casey and Dawson
One of the few couples to actually get married on the show, Dawsey’s chemistry was like no other. However, when Monica Raymund decided to leave the show at the end of season 6, the pair got divorced
Natalie and Crockett
Despite bickering most days at work, Natalie and Crockett spent the night together during season 6 of Chicago Med, weeks after she found out that he had lost a child.
Lindsay and Halstead
Before Sophia Bush left the show, Lindsay and Jay were constantly together. Whether they were partners or dating, they always had each other’s backs. However, when she decided to take the job in New York, she never even said goodbye.
Severide and Lindsay
Before there was Stella and Jay, Lindsay and Severide turned to each other to vent about their stressful jobs. However, both of their tough as nails attitudes became too much.
Antonio and Brett
Speaking of crossover relationships, when Brett began dating her BFF’s brother, who just happened to work for Intelligence, it seemed like it couldn’t get better. She brought out his sensitive side, which made him so much more charming.
April and Ethan
Another up and down couple, these doctors struggle with balancing their work relationship and personal one, but despite other romances, they find ways back to each other
