Find out why the fan favorite firefighter was M.I.A. during the latest One Chicago Wednesday.
As a Chicago Fire icon, you better believe Chihards noticed that Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) was M.I.A. during the latest chaos on Season 14 of the NBC nail-biter.
The Firehouse 51 legend may have been out of the office on May 18’s episode, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t making power moves. With the sudden departure of Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), Severide has found himself scrambling to make sure the sails of Firehouse 51 remain steadfast. Many of the first responders are heartbroken by Pascal’s farewell, but Severide isn’t faltering. As the longtime beating heart of the NBC nail-biter, Chicago Fire fans can rely on Severide to save the day.
“It’s never lost on me how special it is to be a part of something with the longevity this has,” Kinney told Us Weekly in a May 2022 interview. “It’s a testament to [series creator] Dick Wolf and the team of people he puts together.”
Find out why Severide was M.I.A. on Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 15 (“Do Not Resuscitate”), below.
Where was Kelly Severide on Chicago Fire? (March 18, 2026)
He was OOO due to navigating some life-changing maneuvers in the CFD. While looking at Pascal’s abandoned office, Lizzy Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) told Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente) that she’d heard that Pascal wanted Severide to assume his post.
“Is he going to?” Vasquez asked. “Take the office?”
“Kidd isn’t sure yet,” Violet explained. “But Severide is out this week because he’s sitting for the Captain’s exam.”
By the sounds of that, it seemed like Severide was accepting Pascal’s nudge in the Chief direction. The first responders marveled over how much had changed in the course of one shift, echoing the thoughts of many Chihards watching at home.
Fret not, Chicago Fire fans, Severide will return to Firehouse 51 soon.
How Kelly Severide became the pending Chief of Firehouse 51
Chicago Fire’s “Do Not Resuscitate” kicked off with many Firehouse 51 first responders feeling lost amid the recent termination of their beloved boss, Chief Dom Pascal. After being arrested by federal agents during the One Chicago crossover, Pascal narrowly managed to get the charges dropped, but was ultimately unable to preserve his position within the CFD.
Chicago Fire’s “Hit and Run” saw Pascal navigating his last day at Firehouse 51, which ironically aligned with the arrival of Firehouse 51’s new Chief assistant, Lucy (Jeanine Mason). Committed to making a glimmering first impression, Lucy helped Pascal finalize his lingering assignments and responsibilities to set Firehouse 51 up for success. Before opting for an Irish exit, Pascal told Severide to speak with Lucy, as he’d left something in his Chief’s office for him.
Chicago Fire Season 14
One Chicago Wednesdays are here!
Fresh off an extended fall hiatus, new Chicago Fire episodes begin airing January 7, 2026 every Wednesday at 9/8c. New episodes are available to stream on Peacock Thursdays at 6 a.m. ET.
Keep up with your favorite firefighters and paramedics Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), Joe Cruz (Joe Miñoso), Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte), Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith), Lyla “Lizzie” Novak (Jocelyn Hudon), and Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente) as they navigate the highs and lows of Firehouse 51.
If that’s not quite enough One Chicago for you, checkout exclusive merch available now at the NBC Store!
However, once Severide arrived at Firehouse 51, Lucy revealed that Pascal had left the entire Chief’s office to Severide. Pascal wanted Severide to follow in his footsteps, leaving the steadfast Lieutenant a copy of the Chief’s Handbook. With Severide M.I.A. on Chicago Fire’s latest, it didn’t take long for murmurs about the passing of the baton to swirl around Firehouse 51.
Find out what happens to Severide next by watching Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.