Mark Harmon Uncertain About Gibbs’ Return to NCIS, Hints He Hasn’t Been Asked

Mark Harmon is not the person to ask about whether Gibbs will return to “NCIS” — because he just doesn’t know.

The 72-year-old actor appeared on a panel at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Saturday, July 13, to discuss narrating as present-day Leroy Jethro Gibbs on CBS’s upcoming “NCIS: Origins” prequel series, starring Austin Powell, and to reflect on his 2021 exit.

“It wasn’t so much a decision to leave, but the right timing to push away a little bit,” Harmon said about his departure. “I was thrilled with the story line they came up with and how they handled the character. And the show continued on.”

When asked whether he could see himself returning in an onscreen capacity, Harmon, who remains an executive producer on “NCIS” but hasn’t played Gibbs since early season 19, had a straightforward response.

After the panel, Harmon was asked directly by TVLine whether “NCIS” had ever invited him back in an official manner. “Directly, like a phone call? Not that I’m aware of,” he replied.

Regarding a potential return for the “NCIS” series finale, Harmon was similarly uncertain. “I don’t know,” he said. “It’s really about feeling like you’re fulfilled with a role or complete with a role.”

Harmon made his “NCIS” debut as Gibbs in 2003 and played the lead for 18 years. His final appearance, which aired in late 2021, showed Gibbs symbolically passing the torch to Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) by choosing to stay in Alaska and not return to Washington, D.C.

“What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging,” Harmon said about his departure in an August 2022 interview featured in the season 19 DVD release. “Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did.”

He reassured fans that Gibbs was still present in the “NCIS” universe, adding, “I’m not retired. The character is living in Alaska as far as I know.”

“NCIS” co-showrunner Steven D. Binder previously addressed Gibbs’ absence from the franchise’s 1,000th episode, which aired in April.

“Of course the door is always open,” he told TVLine earlier this year. “But when we bring him back, we’re not going to bring him back for two minutes. It’s got to be something special.”