Is Chief Boden leaving Chicago Fire? (NBC confirms Boden’s fate)

If the Chicago Fire season 12 finale felt like a goodbye to Boden, there is a very good reason for this as the episode sadly was a goodbye of sorts to our longtime Chief. Warning: Spoilers ahead for the season 12 finale! 

In the season 12 finale, Boden decided to throw his name in the hat and go out for the Deputy Commissioner role knowing that he could not stand by and let Chief Robinson take the job – knowing she would just push out the veteran members of the CFD and fail to have the backs of those under her ranks. 

Boden entered the race quite late and didn’t even think he had a chance at the job, but his years of service and leadership were what ended up landing him the position. That’s right, Boden is the new Deputy Commissioner of the CFD which means change is coming. He ended the season packing up his office at 51 as he prepares to take up residence at Headquarters where he’ll now reside in his new position. 

The storyline leaves the door open for Boden to return, but it was indeed designed to be an exit storyline.

Eamonn Walker will not return as a series regular in Chicago Fire season 13

With Boden taking the Deputy Commissioner job, he’ll be taking on a leadership role in the CFD and will no longer be sitting in the Chief’s chair at 51. This storyline is one that is both a natural progression in Boden’s character arc but was also written in as an exit storyline for Eamonn Walker. 

After 12 seasons as a series regular, Walker is stepping back from NBC’s long-running drama and will not be returning in a main role next season. The good news is that NBC has left the door open and there is a good chance that Walker will make guest appearances in the new season or possibly even recur. 

NBC has not confirmed how many episodes we might see Boden in next season, but we’re optimistic he’ll return for at least a few episodes over the course of the season as we can’t imagine not seeing Boden appear in at least a few episodes. 

So while Boden and Walker are leaving, this is more of a see you soon exit rather than a closing of the book entirely!