Did Casey die on Chicago Fire?

Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) was at the heart of Chicago Fire. He was present from the show’s inception, and served as the emotional anchor for the 51 squad. His departure in the 200th episode left many fans reeling, especially given how uncertain his return looks to be.

Casey’s decision to leave 51 has confused audiences who missed the crucial episode, however. There are some who believe his character is slated to return before the end of the season, and some who even think that Casey died. So what’s the truth? Is Casey dead? Will we ever get to see the heroic firefighter in action again?

Here’s the lowdown on Matt Casey and his character’s future.

Is Casey dead on Chicago Fire?

No, Casey is not dead. He’s alive and well as the new legal guardian of the Darden boys. There’s been several allusions to his character in the episodes since his departure, and fans even got to hear his voice when he left a message on Brett’s phone. Their relationship has suffered as a result of Casey’s decision to move, but showrunner Derek Haas has assured fans that they will not give up on their romance so easily.

“We’re going to keep it alive”, Haas confirmed during an interview. “We’re in a day and age where, because of Facetime and airline tickets and phone calls, [it’s easier].” When asked what the ETA is on Casey’s potential return, the showrunner mentioned 3 years as a possible marker. 3 years is the amount of time it will take for Griffin Darden to be of legal age, at which point Casey will be free to return to the 51. If he so chooses.

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While Haas mentioned 3 years as a cautious estimation, he didn’t rule out the possibility of Casey making a return sooner. He has left the door open for actor Jesse Spencer to make a guest spot or even to appear via phone call (as was done in a recent episode).

During the same interview, Spencer alluded to the fact that he and Haas discussed several possible exits for the character. They didn’t mention what those alternate storylines were, or whether killing the character off was ever on the table, but given the willingness to bring the character back in the future, we’d be surprised if it was.

Casey is alive and well in Portland, Oregon. Here’s hoping we all get to see him sooner than later.

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