Chicago Fire finale spoilers: Is Kelly Severide leaving Chicago Fire?

When it comes to cliffhangers, Chicago Fire never plays is safe and has become known for delivering some of the most intense finales around. No matter whether it’s a midseason or season-ending finale, Chicago Fire has never been afraid to take big risks and has become known for finales that leave fans with several unanswered questions.

The show’s finales also have a pattern of leaving one or members of Firehouse 51 in some sort of life-threatening danger, often leaving our beloved heroes in grave situations with their backs up against the walls and all odds stacked against them.

It looked as though season 9 might take a different route by instead leaving things up in the air on a more personal level with possible career changes looming and major personal decisions to be made. However, in the final moments of the season, the writers delivered a gut-wrenching twist that has many concerned about the futures of several members of 51.

** Warning: The following post contains spoilers from the Chicago Fire season 9 finale **

Is Kelly Severide leaving Chicago Fire?

As the Chicago Fire season 9 finale came to an end, the Squad team responded to a boat accident that required an underwater rescue.

Looking to save the life of the victim trapped in an overturned boat, Severide (Taylor Kinney), Cruz (Joe Minoso), Capp (Randy Flagler) and Tony (Anthony Ferraris) suited up in scuba gear and made their way to the boat to search for the victim.

Although the team was successful in finding the victim in need of rescue, things took a turn for the worst when the boat collapsed on top of them, blocking their escape route in the process. Making matters worse, their oxygen tanks were out of air and the water was quickly rising.

In the final moments of the finale, the water rises above their head just as the episode fades to black leaving the fate of the four Squad members very much up in the air.

Considering the way in which the season concluded, it’s not yet clear whether Kelly Severide will be leaving Chicago Fire or if he’ll pull through the ordeal. Ultimately, it seems the fate of the character might lie in the hands of his portrayer, Taylor Kinney.

Is Taylor Kinney leaving Chicago Fire?

Given the way in which Chicago Fire season 9 ended with Severide’s life hanging in the balance, it’s unclear whether the storyline was introduced as a possible exit storyline for actor Taylor Kinney.

Although no official decision has been made, reports suggest that Kinney’s contract with Chicago Fire ended with season 9 meaning it’s possible he is no longer under contract for the show. As a result, it’s possible he could choose to walk away from the show and opt not to return for season 10.

That said, there has been no indication from Kinney directly that he is looking to walk away from the show and we imagine NBC will do everything possible to work out a new deal in order to keep him around for season 10.

We’ll have to wait to see how things play out and there is a chance we might not hear anything until closer to the start of production on Chicago Fire season 10. For now, we’ll remain optimistic that no news is good news as we can’t imagine Chicago Fire without Kinney and don’t want to entertain the idea of not getting our dream Stellaride wedding.

For the latest Chicago Fire season 9 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.