After fourteen seasons of covert operations, heart-pounding missions, and quiet introspection as Special Agent G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles, Chris O’Donnell is trading in his badge for a fire helmet — and in doing so, closing the door on one of television’s most enduring procedural roles. His latest career move all but confirms what longtime fans have feared: NCIS: Los Angeles is truly over. But in the same breath, it opens a thrilling new chapter — one that will see O’Donnell leading the next major installment in one of network TV’s biggest franchises.
The Final Flame of NCIS: Los Angeles
When NCIS: Los Angeles ended its 14-year run in 2023, fans clung to hope that G. Callen and the OSP team might someday return. The series finale left just enough room for imagination — a quiet, hopeful exit instead of a definitive goodbye. But as the months passed, no revival rumors gained traction.
Then came the update that sealed the deal. Chris O’Donnell, the man who gave Callen his intensity and mystery for more than a decade, has joined ABC’s 9-1-1 universe as the lead of its newest spinoff, 9-1-1: Nashville.
For fans, the message was bittersweet and unmistakable: NCIS: LA’s doors have officially closed, and O’Donnell is moving on to command a new world.
From Special Agent to Fire Captain
In 9-1-1: Nashville, O’Donnell will portray Captain Don Sharpe — a rugged firefighter and rodeo rider who leads Nashville’s busiest firehouse alongside his beloved son. The show’s logline paints him as a “family man with secrets,” a description that instantly evokes shades of G. Callen’s guarded humanity — but with a distinctly Southern twist.
The new spinoff, set to premiere in fall 2025, will replace 9-1-1: Lone Star in the franchise lineup. According to early reports, the series will embrace the city’s music-soaked identity and Southern character, weaving first-responder heroics with the personal and cultural pulse of Nashville.
O’Donnell’s casting was the first official announcement for the show, signaling ABC’s confidence in his star power and steady hand in high-stakes storytelling.
“Given O’Donnell’s experience and expertise in procedurals,” a TVLine source said, “there is no doubt he will shine as Captain Don Sharpe.”
And they’re not wrong. O’Donnell has spent the better part of two decades anchoring ensemble dramas — first as a young CIA operative in The Company, then as the haunted leader of NCIS: LA. His natural gravitas and quiet intensity make him an ideal fit for a franchise that thrives on emotional authenticity beneath the action.
Saying Goodbye to Callen
For O’Donnell, G. Callen wasn’t just another TV role. The character was a man shaped by trauma, mystery, and slow-burn redemption — one whose story unfolded over hundreds of episodes. Fans watched as Callen evolved from a lone wolf to a man who finally found peace and partnership. His farewell was understated, fittingly private — much like the character himself.
Now, with O’Donnell firmly stepping into 9-1-1: Nashville, the prospect of a Callen comeback has faded into television memory. While spin-offs like NCIS: Hawai‘i and NCIS: Sydney have kept the universe alive, Los Angeles stands as its own legacy — one that ended gracefully rather than fading away.
There’s poetic symmetry in the transition. Callen spent years walking into chaos, saving lives in the shadows. Captain Sharpe will do the same — but in the light, with sirens blazing and flames roaring.
Nashville: A New Kind of Heat
9-1-1: Nashville will introduce a city unlike any other in the franchise — one steeped in rhythm, resilience, and raw emotion. Set against the backdrop of America’s country-music capital, the show promises to blend Southern soul with the franchise’s signature adrenaline.
If Los Angeles gave O’Donnell the sleek, steel-blue world of covert ops, Nashville offers fire, dust, and heart. It’s an environment where every rescue feels personal, every call steeped in community. And with O’Donnell at its center, Nashville could bring a grounded emotional core reminiscent of NCIS: LA’s early seasons — only louder, hotter, and more heartfelt.
A Procedural Powerhouse Reinvented
O’Donnell’s move isn’t just a casting update — it’s a signal of a new era in procedural television. The actor’s career has been defined by characters who lead through empathy as much as authority. As Captain Sharpe, he’ll once again embody that balance — a man of action with unspoken depth, a hero who saves others while struggling to save himself.
His transition from CBS to ABC also marks a fascinating industry shift. After 14 years as one of CBS’s most recognizable faces, O’Donnell’s jump to the 9-1-1 franchise reinforces his staying power and adaptability. He’s not chasing nostalgia — he’s rewriting it.
The Verdict: The End of One Legacy, the Rise of Another
It’s official: NCIS: Los Angeles has reached its final destination. But Chris O’Donnell’s story as a leading man in network television is far from over. 9-1-1: Nashville positions him not as a nostalgic figure from a bygone hit, but as a cornerstone for what comes next — a franchise-builder stepping into uncharted territory with the same quiet conviction that made Callen unforgettable.
Fans may never get the reunion they once hoped for, but they’re getting something equally meaningful: a second act worthy of the man who carried NCIS: LA for more than a decade.
From agent to captain, from Los Angeles to Nashville — Chris O’Donnell isn’t leaving his legacy behind. He’s expanding it.
