Mark Harmon may be narrating NCIS: Origins these days — and even popping up for surprise cameos — but his iconic character Leroy Jethro Gibbs hasn’t appeared on NCIS proper since his quiet exit in Season 19’s “Great Wide Open.” After wrapping a case together in Naktok Bay, Alaska, Gibbs stayed behind and McGee headed home alone. The two haven’t spoken onscreen since.
But if a reunion were to happen, Sean Murray already has a vision.
During an interview with CinemaBlend, and after discussing this week’s “Page-Turner” episode (which treated longtime viewers to a clever Jessica Knight throwback), Murray opened up about what he wants the hypothetical first conversation between McGee and Gibbs to explore.
“I think Gibbs would want to make sure McGee is being honest with himself and doing things for the right reasons — the reasons Gibbs taught him,” Murray said.
“A big part of McGee is always looking for Gibbs’ approval.”
Murray pointed to McGee’s complicated history with his own father, explaining that his character always craved a true father-son bond — something he ultimately found with Gibbs.
That connection was underscored during the NCIS / NCIS: Origins crossover, when Roma Maffia’s Vera Strickland casually told McGee that she’d been in touch with Gibbs — and that Gibbs is proud of him. For fans who watched Gibbs mentor McGee for nearly two decades, that moment landed with emotional weight.
Murray believes McGee still carries that need for reassurance.
“Part of why he still does what he does is because of Gibbs’ encouragement,” he shared.
“If they had a conversation, it would be, ‘Am I doing okay, boss?’ Gibbs is kind of his compass.”
So… will the reunion ever actually happen?
That’s the big question. In the current NCIS timeline, Gibbs is still living in quiet isolation in Alaska, fixing up radios and feeding stray dogs. How Vera manages to stay in touch with him remains a mystery — one she didn’t bother to share with McGee.
And Mark Harmon hasn’t hinted at any plans to return to the flagship series, especially now that he’s deeply involved with Origins behind the scenes.
Still, fans aren’t giving up hope, and neither is Murray.
For now, McGee is thriving — both as a senior agent and as a family man — and his former boss would almost certainly approve. But after more than 20 years of partnership, mentorship, and chosen-family connection, a Gibbs–McGee reunion feels like unfinished emotional business.
Here’s hoping we get that moment before NCIS eventually signs off.
