Chicago Fire season 12: Will Jeff Hephner return as Jeff Clarke?

Jeff Clarke (Jeff Hephner) may not be a name you remember too vividly. He was introduced during the Chicago Fire season 1 finale, and played a decent-sized role in season 2 before being relocated to another firehouse. He returned in season 5, but it was during his time on Chicago Med that the character really blossomed.

He switched careers, obviously, and developed some pretty interesting dynamics with the Med team. He was the first character to transition between shows full time, so it’s fair to wonder if he will return return for a cameo in season 12.

Is Jeff Hephner coming back to Chicago Fire?

Unfortunately, all signs point to no. Clarke, who went away after Med season 2, will not be in the mix when the firefighting drama returns, and there are a couple reasons why. For one, Clarke has not been a crucial part of the One Chicago experience for over six years. Whatever catche he may have had with viewers has dissipated, and with it most of the people he worked with at the 51.

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There would be little dramatic impact to bring Clarke back in season 12, and frankly, given that he changed careers to become a physician, it would make little sense. He also had his eye set on the medical field, so unless there is a specific case in which the character is caught in a house fire, we doubt that he would show up and converse with the current 51 roster.

There’s also the fact that Hephner is a busy man. He’s currently hosting the game show Switch, and he’s slated to appear in the upcoming TV series Eric opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Gaby Hoffmann. It’s unlikely he would take time out of his schedule to play a character who hasn’t been seen since 2017.

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