Arguably one of the most unexpected exits from One Chicago in recent years, a former Chicago Fire actor clarifies why he was written out in season 12. Despite an abbreviated run because of the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023, so much still happened in Firehouse 51 in the last year. There were internal fighting, weddings, and other family drama. Despite that, arguably the biggest talking point from Chicago Fire season 12 was how many people the show lost in just 10 episodes. One of those losses was Rome Flynn, who left after just a couple of outings.
Speaking to Deadline in light of his new project, Godfather Of Harlem, where he plays Frank Lucas, Derrick Gibson also discusses his abrupt departure from Chicago Fire. He clarifies that his upcoming series has nothing to do with abruptly ending his stint as Gibson in Firehouse 51. Read his full quote below:
They were not connected at all. I did not leave that show for this one. Everything just happened to turn out that way. It’s like you have your people but you won’t be with all of them forever. Sometimes, you meet a new person and you connect. I loved my time there. I love the cast and the crew and I miss them a lot. But we all have our own journeys, and I’m grateful for that opportunity. Now, I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity because it’s giving me the chance to step into a life like I’ve never done before.
Why Derrick Gibson’s Chicago Fire Season 12 Exit Was Disappointing
Before Gibson exited the series, Chicago Fire season 12 already lost Blake Gallo at the start of the year and Sylvie Brett, when she married Matt Casey and moved to Oregon. In fact, Flynn’s character was introduced as a new firefighter who was supposed to fill the void left by Gallo in Stella Kidd’s team. Previously working with Kylie Estevez in a different firehouse, Kelly Severide’s wife recruited Gibson after working with him and being impressed by his skills. He decided to leave Firehouse 51 after realizing that he needed to address some personal issues that were hampering his work.
While One Chicago isn’t new to losing team members, Flynn’s departure was particularly surprising for several reasons. He seemed to be settling in with the rest of Firehouse 51, which wasn’t an easy thing to do, considering how the squad is so tight-knit. Flynn’s relationship with Sam Carver was particularly interesting, as they both bonded over having similar experiences in the past. At some point, it seemed like the pair was being built as Chicago Fire’s new version of Severide and Casey. Unfortunately, Flynn left before the show could even do something substantial with their pairing.
Kidd may have found the permanent replacement for Gallo with Benny Severide’s secret son, Jack Damon. Since leaving, One Chicago has yet to bring up Gibson again, which is an indication that the show isn’t planning on bringing him back any time soon. That said, considering the manner of his exit, the door remains open for him to come back in Chicago Fire season 13.
