After weeks of anxious speculation, One Chicago fans can finally breathe a little easier — but not without keeping one eye on the horizon for what’s to come. According to Deadline, NBC has officially secured new contracts for several of the franchise’s most beloved stars, ensuring that familiar faces will be back to keep the fires burning, the streets safe, and the hospital running when the shows return this fall.
The relief is especially sweet for Chicago Fire viewers, who’ve had their emotions tested in recent months. The announcement that Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) and Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) would not return for Season 14 left many wondering what other cast shake-ups might follow. With Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide), Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd), and Dermot Mulroney (Chief Dom Pascal) all approaching the end of their contracts, fans feared the exits could snowball into something far more devastating. But now, those fears can be put to rest — at least for now. The trio has officially signed on for another season, keeping some of Firehouse 51’s most essential players in place.
Over on Chicago Med, S. Epatha Merkerson (Sharon Goodwin) and Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles) will continue their steady leadership at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, while Chicago P.D. stalwart Jason Beghe (Hank Voight) will once again lead his Intelligence Unit into dangerous territory. The network has confirmed that all three series will return with full 21-episode seasons, though viewers shouldn’t expect to see every character in every episode due to budget-conscious scheduling.
The timing of this news couldn’t be more intriguing for Chicago Fire in particular. Season 13 ended on an emotional cliffhanger for Severide and Kidd, as the married couple learned they were expecting their first child. It was a rare moment of hope and stability in a series known for putting its heroes in harm’s way — but as any fan of network procedurals knows, good times don’t last forever. Showrunner Andrea Newman has already teased that “a lot of turnover and a lot of craziness” will hit the Chicago Fire Department in the new season, hinting at staffing changes, leadership shuffles, and unexpected departures that could test even the strongest bonds.
That sense of uncertainty isn’t just on screen. Behind the scenes, cost-cutting measures have rippled through the entire One Chicago franchise, forcing tough decisions about cast availability and episode structure. While each show will still deliver its signature mix of heart, heroism, and high-stakes drama, fans might have to adjust to seeing their favorites step out of the action for an episode or two at a time.
Still, with Kinney, Mayo, Mulroney, Merkerson, Platt, and Beghe locked in, the core of One Chicago’s storytelling power remains intact — and with a new baby on the way for Severide and Kidd, at least one storyline promises joy amid the chaos. But in the world of One Chicago, nothing stays calm for long. And as history has proven, those quiet moments are often just the calm before the storm.
