Linda Reagan was a beloved character on CBS’s police procedural Blue Bloods for seven seasons before abruptly being killed off. Linda was the wife of lead character and detective, Danny Reagan and the mother of his sons, Sean and Jack. Linda served as Danny’s moral compass, frequently offering him emotional support and guidance as he navigated the challenges of his job.
Linda’s death came about because the actress who played her, Amy Carlson, chose not to renew her contract after Season 7. Because Amy Carlson wanted to leave the show, Linda was never going to remain a main character. However, how Blue Bloods killed her upset many fans and was disrespectful to the character. Many viewers felt that there was a better way to write Linda’s death, or better yet, not kill her off at all.
Updated on June 24, 2025, by Michael Colwander: Blue Bloods has officially ended, and a new Danny Reagan-led spin-off in Boston Blue will debut this Fall. This spin-off begs the question of whether or not Danny remarries or dates again after Linda’s tragic death. This article was updated to include additional information about these characters and to reflect CBR’s current style guide.
What Happened to Linda on Blue Bloods?
A Shocking Season Premiere Reveals Linda’s Off-Screen Death
Linda Reagan’s death was revealed in Blue Bloods‘ Season 8, Episode 1, “Cutting Losses.” Her death was only revealed, as it did not happen on-screen. In between seasons, Linda died in a helicopter crash while on duty as an ER nurse. “Cutting Losses” took place several months after the helicopter crash, so while Danny was still grieving, he was further out from the immediate aftermath.
Why Did Linda Really Die in the Blue Bloods Universe?
Was Linda’s Death An Accident?
In the last episode Amy Carlson appeared in before she left the series, Season 7’s finale, “The Thin Blue Line,” Danny gets personal with a drug cartel, targeting their money supply. They retaliated by setting fire to Danny and Linda’s home, burning it to the ground. When Linda died in a helicopter crash, Danny obviously didn’t think that the two events were connected. However, he might have been wrong.
In Season 9, Lou Diamond Phillips had a story arc throughout the season as Luis Delgado, a member of the drug cartel that was responsible for torching Danny and Linda’s home. When confronted about it, Delgado not only gladly confessed, he also dropped a bombshell on Danny by hinting that the drug cartel caused Linda’s death. Later in the season, after Delgado went to work for the DEA as an informant (a role somewhat forced on him by Danny, intimating to Delgado’s people that he was a snitch), Delgado outright told Danny, via video camera, that the cartel intentionally crashed Linda’s helicopter.
Blue Bloods Didn’t Need Linda To Die
The Door Should’ve Been Open For Linda To Come Back
A main character’s death in a long-running television series is always difficult. Whenever fans have been with a character for as long as seven seasons, there is usually an emotional attachment. Therefore, Linda’s death happening off-screen, was a dubious decision as it did not allow fans to get the chance to say goodbye to a beloved character. Furthermore, the reveal of her death taking place several months after the fact meant that the audience missed out on the drama that would have directly followed her death. As heartbreaking as it would have been to see Danny and the rest of the Reagan family react to Linda’s death, it would have made for much better storytelling.
Blue Bloods also could have written off Linda Reagan in such a way that she did not need to die. Amy Carlson stated that she was willing to return for guest appearances, so if Linda had not died, she could return occasionally, like Chicago Fire and Criminal Minds has done with several characters. Viewers love getting to see previously departed characters, such as when Jackie Curatola came back for the Season 13 finale. While Blue Bloods would have had to come up with a good reason why Linda couldn’t be as present in the story, anything would have been better than how Linda’s story ended.
Why Did Blue Bloods Kill Linda Off?
Amy Carlson Decided To Not Return To Blue Bloods
While it could be easy to see Linda’s offscreen death as Blue Bloods jabbing Carlson for deciding not to return for future seasons, that isn’t necessarily the case. It may simply be that the show’s writers saw an interesting opportunity to throw a wrench into Danny Reagan’s storyline by putting him through the death of his wife. Even so, Linda’s death is disappointing for many reasons. It is unfortunately difficult to find a well-written female character in a police procedural, making Linda a standout character in her genre. By killing her off so suddenly, Blue Bloods alienated many viewers who identified with her character. Moreover, the finality of her story makes it nearly impossible for the actress to return in future episodes, unless it takes place in a flashback or dream scenario, severely limiting any possibility thereof.
Does Danny Remarry In Blue Bloods?
By The End, Danny May Have Found Love Once Again
With Linda’s death after Season 7, Danny spent half of Blue Bloods as a widower. Does Danny attempt to remarry, or at least date again, during those final seven seasons? Not really. Danny doesn’t actively pursue dating. However, in the years since, he did grow closer to his partner, Detective Maria Baez. During the Season 11 premiere, the Reagans even invited her to their family dinner, marking a rare instance where a non-Reagan joined in.
On the final episode of Blue Bloods, Danny does ask Baez out for some pizza. Although what comes after hasn’t yet been explored, it was music to the ears of fans who have long been hoping for Danny and Baez to get together. Donnie Wahlberg heard these fan wishes, telling Variety that he pushed for some degree of progression between the two partners, saying, “I went to [writer] Siobhan O’Connor, and I was like, ‘Listen, you’ve got to do something. They don’t need to go get married, but something would be nice, just to show that there may be a future for them or that their relationship has really evolved.'”
I was like, ‘Listen, you’ve got to do something. They don’t need to go get married, but something would be nice, just to show that there may be a future for them, or that their relationship has really evolved.’
The Blue Bloods Universe Has the Perfect Opportunity To Bring Linda Back
Boston Blue Can Find Creative Ways To Reunite Danny and Linda
The upcoming Boston Blue does create a new opportunity to bring back Linda. Although the series takes place well after Linda was killed off, a show more centered around Danny provides an opportunity for flashbacks, dream sequences, or hallucinations. This can be especially important for viewers of the upcoming series who have never watched Blue Bloods, as it will allow them to better understand Danny’s background and motivations. For those still hoping Danny ends up with Baez, bringing Linda back in such a way could allow Danny to navigate any remaining emotional hurdles that may stand in the way of him fully embracing a future with Baez.
Linda Reagan was an integral part of Blue Bloods for seven years, helping flesh out the world of the series, as well as its supporting cast. It would only be right for her to make a return, no matter how small, before Donnie Wahlberg decides it’s time to move on from the franchise. In fact, it would be a disservice to Linda’s memory if she were left out entirely. It would be far more appropriate to allude to her in some way, perhaps with one final flashback of better times, when Linda and Danny were together and happy.
At the end of the day, Linda Reagan was a lovable character who offered a lot to the show during the time she was on it. For the fans who were upset and heartbroken by the way she was killed off, the negative reaction was a testament to the love that Linda inspired. Regardless, she deserved a better ending than the one she was given.
