For twenty years, NCIS has ruled the primetime landscape, evolving from an ambitious spin-off into a global television powerhouse. It has weathered cast changes, introduced multiple spin-offs, and even embraced a new era with shows like NCIS: Hawai‘i and the upcoming prequel NCIS: Origins. Yet, for all its success, there’s an undeniable truth: before Leroy Jethro Gibbs became a household name, before DiNozzo and Ziva captured hearts, there was JAG—the legal drama that started it all.
Now, as the franchise pushes deeper into legacy-driven storytelling, an enticing question hangs in the air: Could NCIS finally honor its origins and reunite with its predecessor in a meaningful way? Fans have speculated for years, but now the answer might rest on the shoulders of one man—David James Elliott.
How JAG Paved the Way for NCIS
The connection between JAG and NCIS isn’t just a footnote in TV history—it’s a direct lineage. In 2003, NCIS debuted its backdoor pilot inside JAG’s eighth season through the episodes “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown.” Those two hours introduced us to Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, and Abby Sciuto—characters who would go on to lead a series that became a cultural phenomenon.
When JAG signed off in 2005, its legacy quietly lived on through NCIS. However, aside from a handful of nostalgic cameos—like A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) and Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux)—the flagship rarely looked back. For years, fans assumed the book on JAG was permanently closed.
That perception changed dramatically in 2019, when NCIS: Los Angeles pulled off one of the most unexpected TV reunions of the decade: Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr. (David James Elliott) and Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) returned for a multi-episode arc. The storyline was short but electrifying, revealing a bittersweet truth: Harm and Mac’s decades-long “will-they-won’t-they” romance was unresolved, their lives complicated, and their story unfinished. The reunion sparked a wave of nostalgia and an even bigger question: If Harm and Mac could appear on a spin-off, why not on NCIS itself?
Why Harmon Rabb’s Return Would Be a Game-Changer
Bringing Harm back to NCIS wouldn’t just be a nostalgia grab—it would be a smart creative move that taps into three powerful forces: history, character depth, and unfinished business.
1. A Bridge to the Franchise’s Origins
As the NCIS universe expands with prequels like Origins and revival-driven spin-offs (hello, Tony and Ziva), a Harm Rabb comeback would feel like the ultimate full-circle moment. He’s a living, breathing link to the show’s earliest roots—a way to pay tribute without sacrificing the forward momentum of the current storyline.
2. A Legal-Minded Wild Card
Harm’s presence would also bring fresh narrative opportunities. As a Navy Captain and former JAG lawyer, his perspective would add intellectual tension to the more field-driven NCIS team. How would his disciplined legal mind mesh—or clash—with Alden Parker’s modern leadership style? Fans still remember the friction between Gibbs’ gut instincts and Harm’s rulebook sensibility. Imagine that dynamic reborn for a new era.
3. Closure for a Two-Decade Cliffhanger
The Harm-and-Mac love story is legendary—one of the most compelling “slow burns” in TV history. NCIS: Los Angeles teased us with answers but left the door wide open. A meaningful arc on the flagship series could finally resolve this storyline in a way that feels organic and satisfying. For longtime fans, that’s not just a bonus—it’s an emotional payoff 20 years in the making.
The Biggest Obstacle: David James Elliott’s Reluctance
Here’s where the dream meets reality: this reunion can’t happen without David James Elliott—and he’s made it clear he’s not chasing the role. While open to discussions, Elliott has admitted in interviews that he doesn’t foresee a return unless the story is compelling and the timing feels right. His brief stint on NCIS: Los Angeles happened largely because of a favor to showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, who also worked on JAG.
Elliott has also confessed that he isn’t familiar with the current NCIS cast, which could make reintegration tricky. And this isn’t a character who should pop in for a cameo—if Harm returns, it needs to be weighty and purposeful, a storyline that justifies his presence and honors his legacy.
Why the Timing Has Never Been Better
Television today thrives on nostalgia. From Law & Order revivals to Frasier reboots, audiences crave legacy characters when the execution is smart. The NCIS franchise is already embracing this trend—recently announcing a Tony and Ziva spin-off that’s fueling fan excitement. So why not lean into that momentum?
Streaming platforms like Paramount+ have also introduced JAG to a new generation of viewers, many of whom are discovering the origins of the NCIS universe for the first time. Combine that with a franchise in its third decade looking for bold, buzzworthy moves, and the case for Harm’s return feels stronger than ever.
The Verdict: A Future Built on the Past
Even if Harmon Rabb never steps onto an NCIS set again, the franchise will always owe a debt to JAG. But the potential for a crossover or reunion is more than fan wishful thinking—it’s a strategic opportunity to celebrate the franchise’s legacy while creating a moment that could dominate headlines and electrify long-time viewers.
If David James Elliott and the producers can align on the right story, Harm’s return could be one of the most powerful narrative swings in the show’s history. It wouldn’t just honor the past—it would make a statement about why this universe continues to thrive after two decades.
Until then, the possibility lingers like a half-salute, half-wave across the deck of an aircraft carrier: What if?
