It’s been over three years since Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs walked into the Alaskan wilderness and left NCIS—and viewers—behind. While fans accepted that Mark Harmon was stepping away from the long-running procedural after nearly two decades, one question has never stopped circulating: Is Gibbs really gone for good?
This week, Harmon finally addressed the rumors in an interview that’s lighting up the internet.
“I never said Gibbs is retired,” Harmon teased. “It’s just a story still waiting to be told.”
That one sentence was enough to reignite a firestorm of speculation. Could Gibbs return in a surprise cameo? A series finale? Or maybe even something bigger—a full-blown spin-off or special event episode?
NCIS executive producers have remained tight-lipped, but insiders say CBS has long been interested in bringing Harmon back for a significant arc. Given the upcoming 22nd season and recent ratings boosts, it wouldn’t be surprising if the show wanted to go out with the man who started it all.
Fans immediately flooded social media with reactions, with trending hashtags like #BringBackGibbs and #GibbsReturns dominating X (formerly Twitter). Some even speculated that Gibbs could return as the head of a new NCIS outpost or as part of a major crossover with the upcoming NCIS: Origins.
For now, nothing is confirmed—but Mark Harmon’s choice of words was no accident. And for a character who’s always played things close to the vest, even that tiny glimpse into Gibbs’ future feels like a big deal.
