There are moments that need no caption — just a look, a smile, or the shared energy between two people. That’s exactly what happened when a previously unseen photo of Chicago P.D. stars Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos resurfaced online, sparking a wave of emotion and nostalgia among fans who have long adored the duo both on and off screen.
The image, believed to have been taken during a behind-the-scenes break in filming, captures Soffer and Spiridakos mid-laugh — relaxed, joyful, and effortlessly in sync. There’s no dramatic lighting, no staged pose — just two co-stars caught in a moment of genuine happiness. And fans can’t get enough. “That smile says everything,” one fan commented on X (formerly Twitter). “You can feel how much they enjoyed working together.” Another added, “This is not just two actors smiling. This is chemistry, comfort, and friendship in one frame. I miss them already!”
Soffer and Spiridakos played Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton respectively, two cornerstone characters on Chicago P.D. whose relationship evolved from professional partnership to marriage over the course of several seasons. Their on-screen chemistry was palpable, built not just on romantic tension but on a deep understanding of one another’s characters — the kind forged in the trenches of Chicago’s criminal underworld.
But the photo has stirred more than just fond memories of “Upstead,” the fan-favorite ship name for Upton and Halstead. It’s also reopened the conversation around Jesse Lee Soffer’s departure from the show in Season 10, a move that left many fans heartbroken and searching for closure — especially after his character’s abrupt transfer to an Army task force. “When Jesse left, it felt like the heart of the show was gone,” one fan wrote in a Reddit thread dedicated to the photo. “And seeing him smile with Tracy again just brought all those feelings back.”
Tracy Spiridakos, who recently confirmed that she, too, will be exiting the series after Season 12, has spoken openly about her close working relationship with Soffer. In interviews, she’s often credited him with helping her settle into the Chicago P.D. family when she first joined in Season 4. Their off-screen bond, full of mutual respect and inside jokes, translated seamlessly to their on-screen dynamic. “Jesse was one of the first people to make me feel like I belonged,” Spiridakos once said. “He’s an incredible scene partner — always generous, always thoughtful.”
Fans have long suspected that their real-life friendship was a key ingredient in making Upstead so compelling. Unlike other TV romances that feel rushed or overly scripted, Jay and Hailey’s relationship unfolded slowly, rooted in shared values, trauma, and loyalty. Now, with both actors no longer part of the show’s future, the resurfaced photo feels like a bittersweet farewell — a reminder of what once was, and perhaps, what could have been. “It’s wild how one photo can take you back,” another fan posted on Instagram. “It reminds you why you fell in love with the show in the first place.”
Soffer’s departure marked a major shift in Chicago P.D., both narratively and emotionally. Halstead had been a consistent presence since the series’ inception, and his moral compass often balanced Voight’s more ruthless tendencies. With him gone, Upton’s character was left to navigate not just the demands of the job, but also the unraveling of her personal life.
While the show has continued to evolve and introduce new arcs, there’s a consensus among longtime fans that the Halstead-Upton era remains one of its most emotionally rich periods. And that’s why this simple image — just two co-stars laughing — feels so monumental. “It’s not about drama or spoilers,” one fan put it. “It’s about that connection. You can’t fake that.” Even cast and crew members have chimed in on the photo’s warmth. One production assistant commented, “They were always like this on set. Always cracking jokes, always lifting each other up. It wasn’t just for the cameras.” The fan response to the photo has sparked renewed interest in reruns featuring key Upstead moments, with many rewatching episodes like “In the Dark,” “Equal Justice,” and “A Good Man” — all rich with the emotional and moral complexity that made the Halstead-Upton partnership so gripping.
