For years, Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) has been synonymous with Squad 3—the daring leader of Firehouse 51’s elite rescue unit. His primary narrative focus has always been the adrenaline rush of the save, balanced by his deep-seated obsession with Office of Fire Investigation (OFI) work. Yet, as Chicago Fire rolls into its latest seasons, a major shift has been occurring, quietly setting Severide up for the most significant promotion of his career: replacing Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) as Firehouse 51’s Battalion Chief.
While many fans might have expected Severide’s OFI passion to lead him to a permanent “fire cop” role, the show has instead been carefully weaving a narrative that positions him as the next top brass at Firehouse 51, leveraging his relationship with the current chief and the tumultuous, tragic events surrounding Pascal’s life.
The clues are undeniable: from Pascal’s profound personal tragedy to his professional step back, Severide is no longer just Squad Lieutenant; he is being molded for the Battalion Chief’s seat.
💔 The Tragedy Catalyst: Pascal’s Step Back
The most significant factor setting up Severide’s move is the personal tragedy that struck Chief Dom Pascal at the end of Season 13: the death of his wife.
Grief and Professional Withdrawal
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The Emotional Toll: The loss of his wife has understandably taken a severe emotional toll on Pascal, forcing him to take a noticeable step back from the overwhelming demands of leading Battalion 25.
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The Mentorship Need: Pascal’s grief has created a power vacuum and a necessity to delegate. The search results confirm that Pascal has begun calling on Severide to both shadow him and to take over for him when he cannot be at the station or on calls. This is not casual delegation; this is a direct apprenticeship in the role of Battalion Chief. Severide is effectively getting on-the-job training for the very position Pascal holds.
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The Public Office Tease: Further unsettling Pascal’s future is the political chatter around him. He recently rejected a date from a key political staffer who hinted that his “folksy charm” would do well in public office. This is a classic narrative device used to write a character out: offer them a “bigger” opportunity that removes them from the firehouse drama, clearing the path for their successor.
With Pascal distracted by grief and potentially eyeing an exit from front-line command, Severide is being groomed as the natural replacement, a trustworthy figure who can step into the leadership void.
⚖️ The Leadership Test: Severide’s Evolution
Severide’s career arc has always positioned him as the passionate, sometimes rebellious, leader. His recent growth, especially since his return from the OFI training, proves he has the maturity required for the Chief role.
From Squad Leader to Station Commander
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The OFI Experience: Severide’s temporary exit for the OFI training in Season 11 was initially seen as a move toward a permanent arson investigator career, which would necessitate his departure from Firehouse 51. However, the show ultimately utilized that experience to broaden his skill set, making him a more well-rounded leader rather than strictly a specialized one. He now combines his street smarts and tactical prowess with deep investigative insight—a perfect mix for a modern Chief.
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The Boden Parallel: Severide has always been closely mentored by Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker). Although Boden ultimately chose Herrmann as a temporary successor before the formal process, Boden consistently saw Severide as a potential Chief. Severide now having to step in for Pascal, making the hard calls and handling the administrative stress, echoes the very lessons Boden imparted.
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The Paperwork Reality Check: Earlier in the series, Severide explicitly stated he was happy with his Lieutenant rank and didn’t want the accompanying administrative workload of a Chief. However, in Season 14, as he steps in for Pascal, he has “gone with the flow, almost as if he’s forgotten about the paperwork side of things.” This subtle shift suggests he is growing comfortable with the expanded responsibilities.
The Internal Struggle (And the Solution)
The internal conflict that has always driven Severide—his “addiction” to arson investigation—can easily be reconciled with the Chief role. As Battalion Chief, Severide would have the authority to appoint himself as the primary liaison between the CFD and OFI, effectively combining the leadership of 51 with his investigative passion without having to transfer out permanently.
🔄 The Ripple Effect: Who Replaces Severide?
If Severide is promoted to Battalion Chief, the shift would create another major void at Firehouse 51: who replaces him as the Lieutenant of Squad 3?
The Herrmann Question
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The Ideal Candidate: The most logical candidate would be Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso), who stepped up as interim Lieutenant during Severide’s absence and has years of experience on Squad 3.
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The Herrmann Factor: The show has recently put Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) in a tough spot, having been demoted from his Lieutenant rank (to accommodate Mouch’s promotion). Herrmann has shown signs of struggling with the demotion and is clearly missing the command role. The search results speculate that if Severide moves up, Herrmann could potentially be tapped to become Squad 3’s Lieutenant. This would allow Herrmann to regain his command title without the administrative burden of a Chief role, and it would ensure the firehouse retains two of its most iconic veteran leaders.
This kind of professional domino effect is a classic writing strategy in the One Chicago universe, ensuring that one character’s promotion immediately creates compelling new arcs for others.
🔑 Conclusion: Severide’s New Destiny
Chicago Fire is doing more than just giving Kelly Severide more arson cases; it is quietly orchestrating the end of his time on Squad 3 and the beginning of his tenure as a high-ranking command officer.
The combination of Chief Pascal’s personal tragedy and subsequent professional withdrawal with Severide’s excelled shadowing and evolving comfort with administrative duties leaves little doubt about the show’s trajectory. Severide is being prepped to step into the Battalion Chief role, a narrative move that would dramatically reshape Firehouse 51 and secure Taylor Kinney’s character as the new patriarch of the station, following in the footsteps of Wallace Boden. The moment Pascal decides to step away—whether for retirement, a public office run, or to simply prioritize his grief—Lieutenant Severide will be ready to take the next, critical step up the ladder.
