For over a decade, Chicago Fire has been built on danger, disaster, and survival. On screen, explosions and near-death experiences are part of the job. But in 2026, fans started whispering about something far more unsettling — a so-called “curse” following the show off screen.
And the name at the center of it?
David Eigenberg.
The actor who plays Christopher Herrmann has always been one of the most grounded, warm presences in the One Chicago universe. Funny. Loyal. Real. So when rumors began spreading that Eigenberg had been acting “haunted” after Herrmann’s major on-screen accident, people paid attention.
Because this didn’t feel like normal Hollywood gossip.
It felt… eerie.
It all started after a brutal storyline in which Herrmann suffered a serious accident that nearly killed him. The episode was intense, emotional, and physically demanding for Eigenberg. According to unverified chatter from crew-adjacent accounts and fan speculation, things reportedly felt “off” on set after that.
Not dramatic.
Not explosive.
Just… wrong.
Lights malfunctioned more often.
People forgot lines they’d never forget.
Props went missing, then reappeared in strange places.
And several cast members allegedly complained about nightmares, bad luck, or sudden anxiety.
Coincidence?
Probably.
But Hollywood has always loved a good curse story — and Chicago Fire suddenly had one.
The rumor mill claims that Eigenberg himself made a few offhand comments that were later blown wildly out of proportion. Supposedly, he joked that the accident storyline “stuck with him” in a way he couldn’t shake. Some fans interpreted that as emotional residue from intense acting.
Others twisted it into something darker:
👉 “He’s haunted.”
👉 “The set is cursed.”
👉 “Something followed them after that episode.”
There is absolutely no evidence of anything supernatural happening on set. No official complaints. No production shutdowns. No statements from NBC. Nothing.
But that didn’t stop the story from growing legs.
Once the word “curse” enters the conversation, logic usually leaves.
Fans started looking backward.
They pointed to past injuries.
Sudden exits.
Personal hardships among cast members.
Emotional storylines that mirrored real-life struggles.
And they connected dots that were never meant to be connected.
Because that’s what fandom does when it’s bored, curious, and deeply invested.
The most dramatic version of the rumor claims that multiple cast members felt uneasy after Herrmann’s accident episode — as if something about it crossed an invisible line. That the storyline was “too real,” too dark, too emotionally heavy, and that it somehow brought negative energy into the space.
Again: this is urban legend, not fact.
But it’s powerful legend.
David Eigenberg has never said anything about ghosts, curses, or hauntings. What he has done in past interviews is talk openly about how intense some scenes are and how hard it can be to shake certain emotions after filming.
That’s called acting.
Not possession.
But when a show has been running for over a decade — with fire, death, trauma, and grief baked into every season — the line between story and superstition can blur for people who want to believe something bigger is happening.
Especially when fans notice mood changes.
Some claimed Eigenberg seemed quieter in behind-the-scenes clips.
More reflective.
Less jokey.
But here’s the truth most people ignore:
Actors age.
Shows change.
Storylines get heavier.
And people grow.
Not everything is a curse.
Sometimes it’s just life.
Still, the idea of a Chicago Fire “curse” has caught on because it fits the tone of the show. Firehouse 51 is built on sacrifice. On pain. On loss. On loyalty tested by tragedy.
So when Herrmann almost died on screen, fans didn’t just watch it.
They felt it.
And when they later heard whispers of bad vibes, strange energy, or emotional fallout, they connected it to that moment.
Not because it’s proven.
But because it’s poetic.
And fandom loves poetry more than paperwork.
So is Chicago Fire cursed?
No evidence says yes.
Is David Eigenberg haunted?
Absolutely not in any factual sense.
But is there something powerful about the emotional weight this cast carries after years of playing heroes in trauma every week?
That’s very real.
And maybe that’s the only “ghost” on that set:
The stories they tell…
And how deeply they live inside them.