NCIS: Why Did Leroy Gibbs Leave the Show? (2024)

NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) wouldn't be the massively successful procedural drama it is today without Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). For most of the show's 21-season and 20-year run, the stern but caring Gibbs led his investigators on the field, in their headquarters, and even in their personal lives. As the show went on, more of Gibbs' past and what his potential life after the armed services could be were revealed. Gibbs was so integral to NCIS's identity and its overarching story that it was unthinkable for him to just leave. But then he did just that four episodes into Season 19.

Much to viewers' surprise, Gibbs left NCIS in 2021. Gibbs' presence and influence still cast a shadow over the remaining characters and even the newcomers he didn't meet, but he really is gone for good. This led longtime fans to wonder what exactly led to Gibbs' departure, and why Harmon left the show that arguably defined his acting career.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs Solved His Last Case & Retired

• "Great Wide Open" (Season 19, Episode 4) was Leroy Jethro Gibbs' final appearance on NCIS.
• Leroy Jethro Gibbs had a reduced role in NCIS before he retired in "Great Wide Open."
• Leroy Jethro Gibbs quietly retired instead of clearing his name in Washington, D.C.

NCIS Season 19 opened with a big case that spanned four episodes. Gibbs pursued the serial killer Paul LeMere, only to learn that he was part of a larger conspiracy concocted by the amoral and destructive Sonova Industries. Gibbs zealously went off the books and was hunted down by his fellow federal agents for doing so. The only person Gibbs could trust was Agent Timothy McGee, his longtime colleague. The case came to a bittersweet end in Season 19's fourth episode, "Great Wide Open." Gibbs arrested LeMere and brought down Sonova's CEO Sonia Eberhart, but he was still guilty of breaking the law. Rather than arrest him as he was ordered to do, FBI agent Alden Parker let Gibbs go. Although Gibbs was technically free, he was still a wanted fugitive. The FBI still had an active warrant out for Gibbs' arrest. He risked prison and worse if he tried to clear his name back in Washington, D.C. Besides his legal issues, Gibbs was done with being a federal agent. He even refused Director Leon Vance's offer to give him his old job back and plead his case with the authorities. What's more, those closest to him knew it as well.

Throughout "Great Wide Open," Gibbs' oldest friends, namely Vance and medical examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard, bid him goodbye, with Gibbs giving an emotional and tearful farewell to McGee. Gibbs was last seen fishing in the quiet Naktok Bay and enjoying life. It was the first place where he felt at peace after the deaths of his family and closest friends. This was also, notably, one of the few times audiences saw Gibbs truly happy. The episode ended with McGee flying back to Washington D.C., while Gibbs stayed behind. Gibbs was occasionally mentioned in succeeding episodes. Some storylines even dealt with the massive hole he left in the agents' lives, but he was never seen again. This was not the first time that Gibbs stepped away from his life as a federal investigator, nor was it the first time that Harmon took a break. But in Season 19's case, his departure was permanent.

Mark Harmon Felt it Was Time to Move on From Leroy Jethro Gibbs

• Mark Harmon stopped starring in NCIS to help produce the series instead.
• Mark Harmon has been portraying Leroy Jethro Gibbs since 2003.
• Mark Harmon was satisfied with the end of Leroy Jethro Gibbs' arc.

Simply put, Harmon left NCIS because he felt that it was time to find other creative pursuits. Despite some controversies like his alleged involvement in making Pauley Perrette, who played Abby Scuito, the team's original go-to forensic scientist, quit the show, Harmon's departure was amicable. That said, Harmon was noticeably already backing away from NCIS even before Season 19.

The longer NCIS went, the less Harmon appeared in episodes. Gibbs didn't always help out in newer episodes' investigations. More often than not, he took a backseat and let his team handle themselves. While he was away from the field, Gibbs was given meaty personal arcs. Case in point, Gibbs spent most of Seasons 17 and 18 growing a genuine bond with his neighbor's son, Phineas. Things went south when he discovered that Phineas' mother, Sarah Johnson, was a sleeper terrorist. Before Season 19, it was announced that Harmon would only appear in a few episodes before dropping out. He did, however, remain as an executive producer.

Based on the changes made to Gibbs' character in NCIS's later seasons, it was clear that Harmon left partly because he was tired of playing the same character. Harmon portrayed Gibbs for more than two decades with little to no deviation. It's also hard to deny the fact that Harmon's age significantly cut down on what he could do on screen in the action-packed procedural show. Gibbs' deeper storylines late into the show's run were obviously a way for Harmon to breathe new life into his signature character before bowing out. Harmon himself confirmed this in NCIS Season 19's DVD commentary, where he admitted that he had nothing left to say or do with Gibbs as a character.

"What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging... Plot-wise, this character [Gibbs] has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK with."

Leroy Jethro Gibbs & Mark Harmon Could Still Return to NCIS

• Leroy Jethro Gibbs was inexplicably absent in Ducky's tribute episode.
• NCIS's co-showrunner wants Leroy Jethro Gibbs' potential return to be a special event.
• Leroy Jethro Gibbs will return in an NCIS prequel, but he won't be portrayed by Mark Harmon.

For now, Harmon has yet to reappear in NCIS. Although Harmon isn't in a hurry to reprise his most famous character, there's a slim chance that he may return. In the DVD above commentary, Harmon confirmed that Gibbs was "not retired" and that he "...is living in Alaska, as far as I know."

Hope for Harmon's potential return picked up steam in light of Michael Weatherly's return as Anthony Dinozzo in one of NCIS's most recent episodes. However, Weatherly's return wasn't exactly a joyous one. In Season 21's second episode, "The Stories We Leave Behind," Dinozzo dropped by to attend Ducky's wake. Fans loved Dinozzo's cameo, but they also pointed out Gibbs' absence. Given how close Gibbs and Ducky were, plus the fact that Ducky's actor (David McCallum) really died, Harmon not appearing in McCallum's tribute episode felt odd. In an interview with TV Line, NCIS co-showrunner Steven D. Binder cleared things up. Binder revealed that bringing Gibbs and other characters back was one of the writing team's first ideas for the episode. But due to budgeting and scheduling conflicts, their initial plan fell through. Most importantly, Binder wanted Gibbs' and Harmon's return to be more than just a quick bit of fanservice.

“Of course the door is always open... When we bring him [Gibbs] back, we’re not going to bring him back for two minutes... It’s got to be something special.”

Given how important Gibbs was to NCIS's story and identity, it makes sense that his potential return isn't being rushed. Harmon also deserves a break after dedicating a large chunk of his life to one character and franchise. Fans who still miss Gibbs have his upcoming prequel series to look forward to. As of this writing, the prequel is titled NCIS: Origins. It will be set in 1991, and focus on Gibbs' training days at Camp Pendleton. It may also expand on the murder of his wife and daughter. A younger actor is expected to portray Gibbs, while Harmon will narrate the episodes. Harmon's son, Sean Harmon, will not reprise his role as the younger Gibbs seen in NCIS's flashbacks. Instead, he will help his father run the prequel as a producer. Casting announcements are expected to be made soon, since the show is expected to be aired some time between late 2024 to early 2025. NCIS: Origins is currently in production.

NCIS

Created by

Donald P. Bellisario

First TV Show

NCIS

Latest TV Show

NCIS: Hawaii

First Episode Air Date

September 23, 2003

Cast

david mccallum , sean murray , Mark Harmon , Brian Dietzen , Pauley Perrette , Rocky Carroll