Is Taylor Kinney Leaving Chicago Fire? Severide Future & Speculation Explained

Though Kelly Severide is one of the longest remaining characters on NBC’s Chicago Fire, his future on the show continues to be unclear.
Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide has been on Chicago Fire since its very beginnings, but despite his long tenure with the series, his departure may be imminent. This year, in 2024, Chicago Fire is airing its twelfth season, and the series has no intention of stopping. The show, following the firefighters, rescue squads, and paramedics of Firehouse 51 in Chicago, has been a staple of NBC’s schedule since 2012. And though characters have come and gone over many seasons, Chicago Fire remains a down-to-earth series about the relationships, dramas, and joys of working as a first responder in Chicago.

At this point in the series, Chicago Fire’s cast has a healthy mix of relatively new characters and old fan favorites. For example, Mouch and Hermann have remained on the series since its very first season, but now, they work alongside newbies like Stella and Carver. Joe Cruz is still a pillar of Firehouse 51, while Casey continued to make brief appearances until his wedding with Sylvie, which took both characters away from the series. Kelly Severide is another major character who has stuck with Chicago Fire since the beginning, however, his end may be nearing as well.

Taylor Kinney Is Not Confirmed To Be Leaving Chicago Fire

Severide will stay with Chicago Fire for another season
As of now, there is no news or confirmation that actor Taylor Kinney is leaving Chicago Fire. Although the start of season 12 has been fairly rough sailing for him and Stella, Kinney himself has not made any announcements about ending his time on the series. If anything, his exit is made up of rumors and speculation only at this stage. Therefore, Kelly Severide will continue being a main cast member of Chicago Fire season 12, and now that the series has been renewed for Chicago Fire season 13, he may even stick around for another two seasons.
It is no surprise that Taylor Kinney’s status on Chicago Fire is such a notable topic among One Chicago fans. After so many seasons, Chicago Fire has seen so many evolutions and eras, and each time, there is the risk of the show not working without certain characters. Luckily, the series has managed to survive thus far, and if Severide left, it likely would continue to survive. However, luckily for audiences, Severide does not seem to be going anyway any time soon, unlike in Chicago Fire season 11, wherein Severide took a long and unexpected hiatus from the television series.

Why There Is So Much Speculation About A Possible Severide Exit

Severide’s season 11 absence makes his exit feel more possible
In fact, Severide’s absence from season 11 is the main reason why there is so much speculation about his status in the show.

In 2023, Taylor Kinney briefly left Chicago Fire due to personal issues and did not return for most of the season.
While Kinney was gone, his character Severide was sent away to Texas to join a series of arson investigations. During this time, he rarely communicated with Stella, and many were left wondering if his absence and his behavior were signs that he was never coming back. Fortunately, he did return to Chicago Fire season 12.

However, even his return wasn’t without flaws. Almost immediately into season 12, Severide and Stella struggled to see eye to eye, and three episodes in, he was sent on yet another arson mission, promising to be more communicative. This sudden departure was immediately worrying for fans, who had already seen an entire season of Severide’s absence. Though Severide did eventually return, it left a bad taste in many mouths.
Severide’s presence in Chicago Fire feels like it could be snatched away at any moment. But at least for now, audiences can be sure that Taylor Kinney is here to stay.

Which Actors Have Left Chicago Fire

Eight main characters have left Chicago Fire
Over the years, countless actors have exited Chicago Fire. These actors left behind characters that were incredibly beloved, and therefore, have maintained strong legacies ever since. In fact, many of these characters left the show in tragic ways, making them all the more important to the show’s history. This includes characters like Otis, who died in season 8, or Shay, who died all the way back in season 2. Meanwhile, other characters have made a difference just from being core parts of the original series, like Gabby, who left in season 6, or Casey, who continues to make brief cameos.
In the end, Kelly Severide will eventually leave Chicago Fire, whether he makes his own exit, or the show eventually comes to an end. But regardless, the series will likely not suffer too much for any one character’s exit due to the strength of the show’s ensemble. Chicago Fire thrives on having many lovable characters, and therefore, as long as Severide’s exit is sensible and well-paced, then it will be just another natural exit in a long list of them.