Change is heating up at Firehouse 51. As Chicago Fire prepares to blaze into its fourteenth season, fans are bracing for a major cast shakeup — one that marks the end of an era for several familiar faces.
In a move that surprised some but confirmed lingering speculation, TVLine has reported that Michael Bradway will not be returning for Season 14. Bradway joined the series in Season 12 as rookie firefighter Jack Damon, a quiet yet determined new recruit straight out of the academy. While his character initially raised eyebrows — hiding a secret that left Kidd and Severide suspicious — the Season 12 finale revealed a jaw-dropping twist: Jack Damon is Severide’s half-brother.
Although Damon returned in Season 13 with a scaled-back role, he made a meaningful reappearance toward the end of the season, hinting at a more permanent place at 51. But just as fans started to warm up to the idea of Damon becoming a core member of the team, news broke of Bradway’s next big move: a starring role in Prime Video’s upcoming series Every Summer After, adapted from Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel.
With Bradway shifting to new creative territory, Chicago Fire will have to write out his character — most likely with an off-screen departure. The silver lining? The door isn’t fully closed. Sources confirm that producers are open to Bradway reprising his role in the future, leaving hope alive for a guest appearance or potential mini-arc down the line.
Bradway’s exit marks the third confirmed cast departure ahead of Season 14. He follows Jake Lockett (Sam Carver) and Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) out the firehouse doors. Carver’s departure was hinted at in the Season 13 finale when he accepted a job out of state, but Ritter’s sudden exit remains a mystery, with no prior setup — sparking fan concerns that his character might simply vanish without a proper send-off.
While fans say goodbye to some beloved faces, Chicago Fire is already looking to the future. NBC has announced the addition of Brandon Larracuente (The Good Doctor, 13 Reasons Why) to the Season 14 cast as a series regular. While the network is keeping his character details under wraps, it’s widely expected he’ll step in to help fill the void left by the trio of exits.
Meanwhile, it’s been confirmed that three major cast members will return: Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd), Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide), and Dermot Mulroney (Chief Dom Pascal) are all locked in for Season 14, ensuring that some familiar leadership remains intact at Firehouse 51.
As the flames of change lick at the edges of the series, one thing is clear: Chicago Fire Season 14 will be a season of reinvention, rebuilding, and emotional goodbyes. But with new characters on the way and legacy favorites still in place, the firehouse isn’t going out anytime soon.
