Following its winter break, Chicago Fire season 13 returns with its second half in 2025, focusing on one storyline that began in season 1 and is the perfect excuse to bring back Matt Casey. Jesse Spencer, who played Casey, exited the NBC procedural drama during season 10. To explain his absence, Casey moved to Oregon to serve as Andrew Darden’s sons’ legal guardian after their mother was arrested. Since then, Spencer has returned to Chicago Fire a handful of times, whether it was to work on a special task force concerning terrorism or to marry Sylvie Brett.
After Casey and Brett’s wedding in Chicago Fire season 12, neither has come back to Firehouse 51. However, one tense storyline in season 13 could give cause to Casey’s return. NBC hasn’t announced that Spencer is reprising his Chicago Fire role in season 13, but the perfect time for him to do so is during Joe Cruz’s arc. Back in season 1, Cruz left Flaco, the leader of a gang who had control over Cruz’s brother, to die in a fire. More than a decade later, Flaco’s cousin was freed from prison and immediately confronted Cruz, blackmailing him into doing his bidding.
Casey Knows About Cruz’s Past Crimes (He Could Offer Some Guidance)
Cruz Needs Someone To Confide In
During Chicago Fire season 13, episode 9, Junior coerced Cruz into helping him steal money from other criminals. However, they got caught, resulting in a shootout. Junior was killed, while Cruz escaped with a gunshot wound to his arm. Despite Junior’s death, Cruz isn’t out of the woods yet, especially since he hasn’t confided in anyone about his recent troubles. If there was one Chicago Fire character who could help Cruz, though, it’s Casey.
Casey Can Still Return In Chicago Fire Season 13 And Help Cruz Fix His Mistakes
Cruz Has Time To Redeem Himself
If there was ever a time for Spencer to reprise his role as Casey in Chicago Fire season 13, it’s now. Cruz’s arc is a solid story that could be elevated via a visit from Casey (which wouldn’t feel forced at all, thanks to Cruz and Casey’s past). Casey’s return would emphasize the true bond of Firehouse 51 and bring Cruz’s plotline to a satisfying conclusion. Even Joe Miñoso, who stars as Cruz in the Chicago Fire season 13 cast thinks so. When asked about who Cruz could confide in, Miñoso told Cinemablend:
“First of all, no one in the firehouse at this point, except for maybe Mouch, has an idea of this ever happening. Jesse Spencer [as] Casey was the one who he really tried to confess to and really knows, but he’s long gone. The new people in the firehouse have no clue, and I think he wants to keep it that way. It’s going to be especially difficult for him and Severide, because Severide is incredibly nosy and intuitive, and so he’s going to notice something’s up there, and it’s going to be really hard on Cruz to try and figure out how to avoid that completely and not get himself in even more hot water.”
Casey would be the best person for Cruz to turn to concerning this Junior mess. However, if he’s unavailable, Miñoso’s comments suggest that Kelly Severide will be the one to help Cruz in his time of need following the events of episode 9. Only time will tell how Cruz gets out of this tricky situation, though, in Chicago Fire season 13.
