Mark Harmon’s character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, remains part of the NCIS universe as he is set to narrate the upcoming prequel series, NCIS: Origins. Although Harmon hasn’t appeared on screen since early Season 19 in 2021, his presence is still felt within the franchise.
During the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Saturday, July 13, Harmon discussed his departure from NCIS, saying, “It wasn’t so much a decision to leave, but the right timing to push away a little bit” (per TVLine). He added, “I was thrilled with the storyline they came up with and how they handled the character. And the show continued on.”
Harmon’s last appearance as Gibbs was in the 2021 episode “Great Wide Open,” where Gibbs told NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee that he would not return to D.C. but would stay in Alaska, having found peace after his family’s death. Since then, the show has provided few updates on Gibbs’ whereabouts. However, in the most recent season, McGee received an envelope from Southwest Alaska containing a polaroid of Gibbs, McGee, and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (played by the late David McCallum), indicating Gibbs is still in Alaska as of Season 21.
Although Harmon remains an executive producer on NCIS, he did not appear in the McCallum tribute episode or the franchise’s milestone 1,000th episode, which aired in April. When asked about what it would take for him to return to the show, Harmon said, “I have been asked that a lot. [But] I’ve always let the writers do what they want to do.”
After the panel, Harmon mentioned that he hadn’t received any direct invitations from the show’s producers to return over the past three years. When asked about a potential return for the series finale, he responded, “I don’t know. It’s really about feeling like you’re fulfilled with a role, or complete with a role.” He also added, “I don’t think [Gibbs] is still standing in the stream in Alaska.”
NCIS co-showrunner Steven D. Binder previously told TVLine that “the door is always open” for Harmon to return, emphasizing that any return would need to be significant, not just a brief cameo.
NCIS continues with Season 22, airing Mondays this fall at 9/8c on CBS. NCIS: Origins premieres September 1 at 10/9c on CBS.