When Mark Harmon exited NCIS as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in Season 19, fans thought it was goodbye. But three seasons later, his presence still lingers—spoken about in hushed tones, remembered in every team decision, and teased in ways that drive fans wild.
Gibbs is no ordinary TV character. He’s a father figure, a legend, a walking rulebook. Even though Harmon stepped back to executive produce behind the scenes, NCIS writers continue to treat his absence like a mystery in itself. Is he in Alaska? Is he ever coming back? Will we see him in NCIS: Origins?
This is no accident. Gibbs is the soul of the show—and keeping him just out of reach fuels both nostalgia and anticipation. It’s smart, emotional storytelling.
And let’s be honest—NCIS just doesn’t feel completely whole without him. A Gibbs return isn’t just a wish. It’s a need.
