Leroy Jethro Gibbs is no longer the main character of NCIS. Mark Harmon, who now produces the show, hasn’t appeared on screen since 2021. Although there’s a slim chance Harmon could return as Gibbs, it’s unlikely.
NCIS wouldn’t be the massively successful procedural drama it is today without Gibbs. For most of its 21 seasons and 20-year run, the stern yet caring Gibbs led his investigators both on the field and in their personal lives. Over time, more of Gibbs’ past and potential post-military life was revealed. Gibbs was so integral to NCIS’s identity that his departure seemed unthinkable—until he left four episodes into Season 19. Gibbs’ absence still impacts the remaining characters and even the newcomers he never met, but he’s gone for good. This has left longtime fans wondering what led to Gibbs’ departure and why Harmon left the show that defined his acting career.
