EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION | By Gemini, Senior Entertainment Correspondent
For over a decade, the “One Chicago” trifecta—Fire, P.D., and Med—has been the unshakeable titan of Wednesday night television. We’ve watched them survive skyscraper infernos, cartel wars, and global pandemics. But as we stand on the precipice of the January 7, 2026 winter premiere, the sirens aren’t sounding a rescue—they’re sounding a funeral dirge.
Behind the scenes, the “One Chicago” family is in a state of absolute civil war. From the shocking real-world legal drama involving Taylor Kinney to a secret “Blacklist” designed to fire the show’s most expensive veterans, the 21st District and Firehouse 51 are about to become ghost towns.
Grab your oxygen masks, because we are diving deep into the smoke to uncover the secrets NBC doesn’t want you to see.
I. THE SEVERIDE SCANDAL: The Real Reason Taylor Kinney is “Permanent History”
For years, we’ve played the “Where is Kelly Severide?” game. First, it was a leave of absence for personal matters. Then, it was a return that felt… different. But the 2026 season opener, titled “A Man Possessed,” is set to reveal a truth so dark it makes the arson cases look like birthday candles.
The Sentencing That Changed Everything
While the show frames Severide’s absence as a passion for “arson investigation,” our sources inside the Cook County legal circuit suggest a much more “procedural” reason for his exit. Rumors of a shocking arrest and sentencing involving the actor have flooded the tabloids. While the network maintains a “no comment” stance, the script for the winter premiere tells a different story.
Severide doesn’t just leave; he is erased. Leaked dialogue reveals Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) discovering a “hidden life” Severide led during his time in Alabama—a life involving illegal gambling debts and a connection to an interstate arson ring. By the time the credits roll on January 7, the man who was the face of the franchise will be a fugitive, leaving Stella with nothing but a broken ring and a pile of legal subpoenas.
II. CHICAGO P.D.’S ‘OFFICE PURGE’: Is Trudy Platt the Next Victim?
If you thought the streets of Chicago were dangerous, wait until you see the boardroom at the 21st District. Sergeant Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) has been the iron-willed gatekeeper of the desk since day one. But the 2026 arc, dubbed the “Ageism Audit,” is coming for her badge.
The “Black Box” Evidence
A source close to the P.D. writers’ room has leaked a devastating plot point: during a routine cleaning of the precinct’s digital archives, a “black box” of old internal affairs files was uncovered. The documents allegedly link Trudy Platt’s late father to a massive payoff scheme involving the 1995 Warehouse Murders.
But here’s the kicker: Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) knew.
The Betrayal: To save his Intelligence Unit from a city-wide budget cut, Voight is rumored to have made a “Devil’s Bargain” with the new Police Commissioner. He will trade Trudy’s career for the survival of Halstead’s legacy and Ruzek’s job.
The Exit: Amy Morton has reportedly been seen cleaning out her “on-set” desk, and the mood at the 21st District set is described as “mournful.”
III. THE RUZWIK RECKONING: Patrick John Flueger’s “Leave of Absence” Is No Vacation
The fandom went into a tailspin when it was announced that Patrick John Flueger (Adam Ruzek) would be taking a leave of absence in early 2026. While the official PR spin is “personal time,” the reality is a high-stakes contract dispute that has turned ugly.
The “Burzek” Divorce?
Fans finally got the wedding they wanted in May 2025, but the “honeymoon phase” is being cut short by a brutal medical twist.
The Diagnosis: Leaked scripts for the episode “The Ledger” suggest Ruzek is diagnosed with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) after years of street brawls and head injuries.
The Cover-Up: Instead of letting him get help, Voight uses Ruzek’s “leave” to send him on a suicidal, off-the-books undercover mission in the cartel-heavy suburbs of Cicero. Marina Squerciati (Kim Burgess) is reportedly “devastated” by the storyline, and her recent public appearances with Flueger are being viewed by insiders as a “farewell tour” for the couple.
IV. CHICAGO MED’S ‘EXTINCTION EVENT’: The Last of the Originals
While Fire and P.D. deal with corruption, Chicago Med is facing a literal death sentence.
The Prion Plague
The introduction of Dr. Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos) brought a new edge to the ED, but her secret is about to explode. Lenox has tested positive for GSS, a fatal, incurable prion disease.
The Hospital Blackout: In the January 7 premiere, a massive cyberattack shuts down Gaffney Medical. Lenox is trapped in the basement with a violent patient, her neurological symptoms flaring up in the dark.
The Maggie Lockwood Exit: Marlyne Barrett is officially stepping back. With her departure, only Dr. Charles and Sharon Goodwin remain. The show is being rebranded as “Chicago Med: New Blood,” and the transition is anything but smooth.
V. THE 2026 ‘ANARCHY’ CROSSOVER: A City Without Heroes
The most “giật tít” (headline-grabbing) news of all is the upcoming Spring 2026 Crossover Event. For the first time, the “One Chicago” universe will admit that the city is losing the war on crime.
“A leaked internal memo from Wolf Entertainment describes the crossover as ‘The Purge meets The Towering Inferno.’ With 49% of 911 calls going unanswered, our heroes aren’t just fighting fires; they are fighting for their lives against a city that has turned on them.”
Who Won’t Survive?
The betting pool among Chicago-based crew members is currently focused on Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg). Rumors suggest that during the decommissioning of Engine 51, Herrmann refuses to leave his rig during a massive gas explosion at a political rally. If Herrmann goes, the heart of the show goes with him.
THE VERDICT: Why You Must Watch on January 7
This isn’t the same “One Chicago” you grew up with. The 2026 season is a “Scorched Earth” reboot designed to lower production costs by removing high-salary legends and replacing them with cheaper, younger “Mirror” characters like Sal Vasquez.
When you tune in this January, look past the sirens. Look at the empty lockers. Look at the trembling hands of Sergeant Platt. The icons are falling, the city is burning, and the law has finally caught up to the legends.
The “One Chicago” era is ending—and the funeral starts at 8:00 PM on NBC.
