Firehouse 51 is losing another familiar face. After building bonds and momentum over two seasons, Michael Bradway is officially exiting “Chicago Fire,” marking yet another cast shake-up for the long-running NBC drama. Fans are speaking out—and they’re not exactly holding back.
Michael Bradway Exits ‘Chicago Fire’ as Fans Question What’s Next for 51
Bradway, who portrayed Jack Damon for two seasons, is stepping away from “Chicago Fire.” His departure follows the recent exits of Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter), who both left in the season 13 finale. For many viewers, losing Damon—especially as his character grew closer to his half-brother Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney)—feels like a gut punch.
Making the exit sting even more is the timing: Severide and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) are preparing to welcome their first child, and fans were looking forward to seeing “Uncle Jack” in action.
While Bradway hasn’t commented directly on the reason for his exit, he was recently cast in the Prime Video adaptation of “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune. The role likely conflicts with “Chicago Fire’s” demanding schedule.
On Reddit, fans quickly reacted. “They need to walk back Carver’s exit,” user Fun_Abroad7618 wrote. “Jake Lockett loves the show. I truly hope they can find a way to somehow bring him back.”
Others echoed the sentiment, wishing Daniel Kyri might also return.
But not everyone is optimistic. “That does it for me,” posted OllieCollie2000. “I’ve barely been hanging on since Casey left, but this is the last straw.”
‘Chicago Fire’ Showrunner Andrew Newman Talks Season 13 Exits and Next Season
As “Chicago Fire” prepares for season 14, one thing is certain: fans should expect the unexpected. Showrunner Andrea Newman told Parade that while Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri are no longer series regulars, their stories might not be finished.
“Nothing’s been locked down yet, but we love both these actors and characters,” Newman shared. “We certainly want to do right by them, but we also want to be surprising and shocking. Some might stay and some might go, we are not sure yet. We’ve got to play it out and see exactly how we can manage the next season with them.”
She also revealed that not all of season 14 has been finalized just yet.
“What we want to do is reflect the craziness of the world right now, and that’s certainly going to be the case on the show,” showrunner Andrea Newman tells Parade. “It’s going to be a wild ride, is the way I keep saying it. We’re going to have lots of different, new adventures, things that we haven’t seen before, because we’ve got to explore what happens when the trucks get leaner, and how that affects calls.”
A Baby Could Change Everything for Severide and Kidd
Newman also teased how becoming parents could impact the personal and professional dynamic between Severide and Stella in season 14. While the couple has always been a powerhouse at Firehouse 51, Newman hinted that the birth of their child will significantly raise the emotional and physical stakes—especially when they’re on the job together.
“In my mind, and as we’ve talked about it in the room many times, if you think the stakes are high now, when there’s a baby in the picture for Severide and Kidd, the stakes go through the roof,” Newman told Parade. “They’re trapped in a building together, and realize if they both die, they’re leaving a baby orphaned, which is exactly what happened to Kidd when she was young, [losing] both her parents.”
Newman explained that the show will dive into how the couple’s new reality influences their choices—and possibly their future working relationship.
“That in and of itself is stuff to explore, and how that changes who a firefighter is, and the way they approach their job. Do they still want to work together? Do they still want to be in the same place? How does the tension rise and the stakes rise because of this?” she said. “It won’t be a goo-goo-ga-ga situation. We’re not going to see a lot of diaper changing.”
