Find out the reason Severide was M.I.A. during the latest chapter of One Chicago action.
As the Firehouse 51 heroes led Chicago Fire viewers on some rollercoaster rescues, Chihards were quickly faced with the absence of fan favorite Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney).
Severide’s been going through it this season as Firehouse 51 navigates insanity both in and out of the firehouse. Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) was shockingly terminated and tapped Severide to become the next Chief. He dutifully accepted the honor, but after kick-starting the exams and training required for promotion, Severide sensed tension with Pascal’s temporary replacement, interim Battalion Chief Andre Hopkins (Rob Morgan).
After being suspended by the late Benny Severide way back in the day, Hopkins has since demonized his son, deploring the perceived favoritism and relaxed social politics of Firehouse 51. Severide’s been passing the Chief exams with flying colors, but Hopkins stands in the way of him assuming the post, promising plenty of tension on the horizon. As a Chicago Fire O.G. and one of 51’s most tenacious firefighters, Severide never fails to steal the show, and he was M.I.A. amid some dramatic twists and turns during the latest chapter of One Chicago action.
Find out why Severide was M.I.A. on Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 17 (“Sway”), below.
Where was Severide on Chicago Fire this week? (April 8, 2026)
Severide’s wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), revealed his whereabouts at the top of Chicago Fire’s “Sway,” explaining to fellow Lietenant Chris Herrmann (David Eigenberg) that Severide would be out of the office for a couple of weeks to continue Captain training courses.
Severide’s absence from the firehouse didn’t stop him from being at the top of his colleagues’ minds, especially as Deputy Chief Hopkins continues to enact his revenge against the son of the man he’s hated for several decades.
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!
Hopkins filed an incident report against Severide during his absence
Chicago Fire’s “Sway” ended on a grave note after Hopkins visited 51’s new Chief Assistant Lucy (Jeanine Mason) and handed over a case file, requesting she drop it off at CFD’s HQ. After spotting the file, Lucy was shocked to discover that Hopkins was filing an internal review against Severide.
Severide’s offense? “Dereliction of Duty,” defined as deliberate failure to perform assigned tasks, presumably for Severide’s eagerness to perform OFI tasks. While Severide’s affinity for arson cases has usually not been cause for complaint, Hopkins has gotten creative in dismantling Severide’s career, and Chihards can’t wait to see how Severide navigates the latest chaos.
Severide’s rocky first meeting with Hopkins set the tone for some anxiety on Stella’s part earlier in the episode, especially after Hopkins raised complaints with her workplace relationship with Severide. However, despite Hopkins’ animosity toward Severide, he treated the rest of the Firehouse 51 with respect. Stella was caught off guard by the kindness, especially after Hopkins supported her decision to investigate a fire as an arson case.
During this investigation, Stella revealed that she’d picked up a few tricks due to Severide’s storied history as an arson investigator. After doing some digging, Hopkins learned about Severide’s side quests with the CFD’s Office of Fire Investigation, asking a colleague about the many assignments he’d taken on in recent years.
Severide’s every move has landed under a microscope, and Hopkins identified his lengthy time away from Firehouse 51 working on arson cases as a leverage point.
Don’t miss Severide’s return to the action by watching Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.