When it comes to season premieres, Chicago Fire has a knack for hitting viewers right in the gut—whether with a jaw-dropping rescue, a romance twist, or a devastating departure. But according to showrunner Andrea Newman, Season 14 will open with something even more seismic.
“I can say there’s a huge shake-up in the very first episode that portends the big drama to come in Season 14,” Newman teases.
And if the finale of Season 13 is anything to go by, she’s not exaggerating.
A Season 13 Finale That Changed Everything
Fans barely had time to process the whirlwind of emotions from last season’s closing moments. Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) learned they’re about to become parents through adoption—a long-awaited development that sent Stellaride shippers into overdrive.
Elsewhere, Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) was cleared of a shocking murder accusation, and romance finally bloomed between Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) and Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith)—only for that budding relationship to face real-world disruption.
That’s because Season 14 arrives with some cast shake-ups of its own:
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Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) and Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) will no longer be series regulars.
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Michael Bradway (Jack Damon, Severide’s younger half-brother) is leaving due to a scheduling conflict.
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However, Newman is quick to reassure fans: “In the Chicago Fire world, no character is ever gone gone! All of these great characters/actors are still in our world, and we definitely plan to see them again.”
In fact, thanks to social media hints, we already know Kyri will be back as Ritter—at least for “a limited time”—so viewers will see how his exit plays out onscreen.
Enter Sal Vasquez: Brandon Larracuente’s Mysterious New Recruit
With familiar faces stepping back, the stage is set for fresh energy—and that’s where Brandon Larracuente comes in. The 13 Reasons Why and The Good Doctor alum joins Chicago Fire as a series regular in Season 14, playing Sal Vasquez, a firefighter with deep family roots in the first responder world.
But as Newman hints, there’s a twist:
“Like Severide, this character is rich with family history in the first responder world, much of it buried. But not for long. Vasquez will prove a real challenge to Kidd, his new lieutenant, as well as to Novak [Jocelyn Hudon] as she tries to get to know this seemingly unknowable guy.”
“Seemingly unknowable” might be the key phrase here. Firehouse 51 has seen its share of closed-off recruits who eventually crack open under pressure, but Vasquez sounds like someone who could stir things up from day one—not just with his firefighting skills, but with whatever skeletons are rattling around in his past.
What His Arrival Means for Kidd, Novak—and Severide
Kidd’s leadership will be tested in new ways as she navigates the dynamic of commanding someone who isn’t afraid to push back. That alone could make for compelling drama, especially since Stella already has her hands full with the emotional rollercoaster of adoption.
And for Novak, still finding her place at 51, Vasquez might be an intriguing puzzle—or a frustrating distraction. Then there’s the Severide connection. If Vasquez’s hidden family history mirrors Severide’s in any way, we could see the kind of reluctant camaraderie—or heated rivalry—that fans love.
Season 14’s Balancing Act: Fresh Stories and Familiar Hearts
With Ritter, Carver, and Jack Damon stepping away, Season 14 faces the challenge of keeping Chicago Fire’s ensemble magic intact while introducing new energy. Vasquez’s arrival is clearly meant to shake up relationships and firehouse dynamics, but Newman’s assurance that beloved characters are never truly gone suggests we’ll still get those nostalgic, full-circle moments.
If history is any indication, by the time the credits roll on Episode 1, we’ll all have questions—and a burning need for more answers about Sal Vasquez.
Chicago Fire Season 14 premieres this fall on NBC. Episodes will stream next day on Peacock in the U.S.
