NBC officially renews Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. for the 2025–2026 season, fans are breathing a collective sigh of relief—but with that relief comes a new wave of heartbreak. While all three shows are coming back, the next era of the One Chicago universe will look very different thanks to some surprising cast departures that promise to dramatically shift the tone, dynamics, and emotional heart of each series.
The most emotional blow to Chicago Fire fans came when Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) officially stepped down from his leadership role in the Season 12 finale. While Walker will reportedly return for guest appearances, the days of Boden commanding Firehouse 51 full-time are over. His exit leaves a massive void, both in the chain of command and in the show’s emotional center. Boden’s departure was not just a retirement—it was a symbolic moment of change. He’s been the backbone of Fire since the pilot episode, a steady hand in chaos, and a father figure to the entire team. With Stella Kidd now stepping into leadership and Severide navigating new responsibilities, Firehouse 51 is heading into uncharted waters. Fans are eager but anxious to see how the house redefines itself without its cornerstone.
If this really is Goodwin’s farewell, her loss marks the end of Med’s moral compass. Her steady leadership, compassion, and unwavering ethics anchored the show through its most turbulent arcs. Without her, Gaffney Medical Center risks becoming a colder, more bureaucratic place—something that could form the backbone of next season’s conflict. Meanwhile, whispers are growing louder that Oliver Platt (Dr. Charles) may be scaling back his role as well. Though nothing has been confirmed, his final scenes in the Season 9 finale—watching Goodwin walk away and sitting alone in his office—felt like a possible sendoff.
Of all the One Chicago shows, Chicago P.D. is undergoing perhaps the most emotional transformation. After surviving her most grueling season yet, Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) was finally reinstated at the end of the Season 12 finale. But sources close to the production confirm that Squerciati is exiting the series in early Season 13. The exit is reportedly being written as a “quiet departure,” giving the character space to heal and step away from the unit—not a dramatic death or scandal. Fans are understandably devastated. Burgess has been a central figure in the show’s emotional arc since Season 1, and her growth—from patrol officer to fiercely loyal member of Intelligence—has been one of the most satisfying storylines in P.D.
NBC’s renewal of the entire One Chicago block may seem like a return to stability, but the creative team is clearly steering the franchise toward reinvention. Showrunner Gwen Sigan has already teased “a new era” for all three shows—one that allows for fresh perspectives, character evolution, and riskier storytelling.
These cast departures, while painful, also create space for new voices. Fans can expect an influx of new characters next season—rookie firefighters at 51, rising residents at Med, and maybe even an outsider in Intelligence with their own agenda. With long-standing roles vacated, younger and lesser-used characters like Violet Mikami, Dr. Asher, and Officer Torres may finally get their moment in the spotlight. And let’s not forget about the promised mega-crossover event coming in 2026. NBC has already confirmed plans for a multi-episode storyline that will connect Fire, Med, and P.D. through a shared narrative. It’s an ambitious undertaking, and the shakeups in cast and leadership across the board suggest a deeper, serialized story is on the horizon.
As fans, we crave continuity—familiar faces, familiar dynamics. But we also know that to keep a show alive, it has to grow. These cast departures mark the end of a golden era in One Chicago, but they also signal the beginning of something bold. The challenge for the writers now is to honor what came before while forging ahead with stories that surprise, resonate, and inspire. So yes, One Chicago is coming back. And yes, it’s going to feel different. But that’s not a bad thing. As Boden said in his final moments at Firehouse 51: “Change is scary. But sometimes, it’s exactly what we need to grow.”
