For a show as gritty and intense as Chicago P.D., it’s no surprise that emotions run high both on and off the screen. But few fans knew that, during the filming of Season 7, two of the show’s most beloved stars were entangled in a real-life romance—one that was kept completely under wraps until it nearly tore the cast apart.
The pair? Tracy Spiridakos (Hailey Upton) and Patrick John Flueger (Adam Ruzek).
Onscreen, their characters were already wrapped in complex relationships—with other people. But behind the scenes, their chemistry was becoming more than just scripted tension. According to several former crew members, it started innocently: shared laughs during table reads, private rehearsals in trailers, late-night filming that turned into long walks back to their cars. By the middle of the season, they were inseparable off-set.
What made the relationship so scandalous wasn’t just the secrecy—it was the timing.
Sources say both actors were previously involved with other people outside of the show. Worse, the two had initially been part of separate romantic arcs on-screen, and their growing closeness began affecting not only their performances but the dynamics between the entire cast.
“Scenes were being rewritten, not because of character growth, but because emotions were too real, too raw,” said one former assistant director. “They had to be separated in some group shots.”
Writers and producers noticed. Directors began adjusting blocking so the two wouldn’t be standing too close. Romantic tension meant for other characters suddenly felt hollow or awkward. Then came the real twist: rumors began circulating that their relationship had ended badly, midway through the next season—leading to silent car rides to set and visible discomfort in shared scenes.
“It got so icy, you could feel it through the screen,” one fan commented on a popular forum. “Something was definitely off in their scenes after Episode 10.”
The fallout became a nightmare for the writing team. One episode that was meant to feature a surprise romantic spark between their characters had to be rewritten last minute. Another, involving a critical undercover mission, was nearly scrapped after the actors reportedly refused to shoot together that day.
NBC was not happy. Confidential mediation sessions were allegedly offered. And there was even a threat—never confirmed—that one actor would be written off if the drama continued to interfere with production.
Incredibly, the show managed to push through. The storyline adjusted, giving both characters their own arcs apart from each other. But the relationship never fully recovered—on or off screen.
Today, both Spiridakos and Flueger remain professionals, and fans have noted that they’ve once again found a rhythm in scenes together. But the scars remain. Behind the smiles and Instagram promos are two actors who once risked it all for a secret love—and nearly brought Chicago P.D. to a halt because of it.
The lesson? When hearts go undercover, the fallout can be just as dangerous as any case they solve.
