The firehouse doors are swinging open again this fall as Chicago Fire returns for its fourteenth season on Wednesday, October 1. And while every new season of the NBC procedural promises danger, drama, and heartfelt moments, this year is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable yet. Between on-screen shake-ups and off-screen casting twists, Firehouse 51 will feel both familiar and brand-new.
One surprise has already set social media buzzing: Daniel Kyri’s Darren Ritter is coming back. But before fans break out the celebratory confetti, there’s a catch—his return is only temporary.
Ritter’s Limited-Time Comeback
Kyri, who stepped away as a series regular after Season 13, made his announcement the modern way—on Instagram. Posting a behind-the-scenes photo from the set, he captioned it simply:
“Back! For a limited time only.”
It’s a bittersweet reveal. Ritter has been a steady, reliable presence at Firehouse 51 since his arrival, beloved for his warm heart and quick thinking in a crisis. But the “limited time” tag means fans should brace themselves—this isn’t a full reinstatement, but rather an opportunity for the show to give Ritter’s story the closure it deserves.
Showrunner Andrea Newman hinted back in May that such returns might be part of a much larger shake-up.
“We’re going to have a lot of turnover and a lot of craziness going on in the CFD from the top,” she said. “People are being cut and moved, and everything’s going to get shaken up next season.”
Ritter’s arc will likely tie directly into this storyline, showing exactly how and why he leaves the firehouse for good.
Goodbyes We Can’t Avoid
Ritter isn’t the only character facing an exit. Season 14 will move forward without Jake Lockett (Sam Carver), whose budding romance with Violet (Hanako Greensmith) was just starting to gain traction in the Season 13 finale. Michael Bradway is also out, meaning Severide’s younger half-brother, Jack Damon, will disappear from the lineup—an unexpected blow given his close bond with the show’s lead.
And the departures may not stop there. In a separate interview, Newman acknowledged that some of Firehouse 51’s most senior members—like Mouch (Christian Stolte) and Herrmann (David Eigenberg)—could face mandatory retirement as the CFD tightens its staffing. It’s the kind of change that could forever alter the chemistry of the crew.
Why This Season Could Feel Different
With several departures, a new recruit (Brandon Larracuente’s Sal Vasquez) bringing mystery and tension, and an internal CFD shake-up threatening the status quo, Season 14 is set to juggle high-stakes rescues with high-stakes personnel drama. Ritter’s short-term return adds an emotional throughline, but it’s also a reminder—this year, nobody is safe from change.
The stakes feel higher than ever, and Newman seems determined to make sure viewers feel the weight of every departure and every arrival.
Chicago Fire Season 14 premieres Wednesday, October 1, 2025, on NBC, with next-day streaming on Peacock. For longtime fans, it might be a season of bittersweet reunions and tough goodbyes—but that’s the reality at Firehouse 51.
