Joe Cruz's career-threatening arc will wrap up in the One Chicago crossover

The character is going to have an extremely tense week.

CHICAGO FIRE -- "Double Red" Episode 909 -- Pictured: (l-r) Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz -- (Photo by: Adrian S. Burrows Sr./NBC)
CHICAGO FIRE -- "Double Red" Episode 909 -- Pictured: (l-r) Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz -- (Photo by: Adrian S. Burrows Sr./NBC)

All roads lead to the One Chicago crossover. The franchise is staging its first three part storyline since 2019, which will bring together the casts of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago PD for a major disaster. One character who is already on the brink of disaster, though, is Cruz (Joe Minoso).

Joe Cruz's last couple episodes have been, well, messy. The character was coerced into committing a robbery, stealing firehouse equipment and was even present for a shootout. He was shot amidst all the commotion, and will be forced to come up with an alibi.

Cruz is going to play a large role in the crossover

Chicago Fire - Season 13
CHICAGO FIRE -- "Untouchable" Episode 13007 -- Pictured: Joe Miñoso as Joe Cruz

Naturally, a misstep of this magnitude isn't going to be fixed in a week. Cruz's freedom and career as a firefighter hang in the balance. If Firehouse 51 discovers the extent of what he did, he's done for. That is why Cruz's current story arc will extend into, and actually get resolved, in the crossover event.

Joe Minoso, the actor who plays Cruz, confirmed this during a recent interview with Screen Rant. He made it clear that Cruz's arc will lead right into the three part storyline, and will receive closure amidst all the other chaos.

"You’ll see this storyline kind of find its conclusion before the crossover, but yes, it will go on for a bit," he told the outlet. "Cruz is, and always will be, concerned about protecting his family first. He will go to any lengths to do that. And so unfortunately he’s going to get tangled up in a big old mess, but let’s hope he comes out the other side of it. I will say it will not be unscathed."

The character's reputation is on the line

Chicago Fire - Season 13
CHICAGO FIRE -- "Untouchable" Episode 13007 -- Pictured: Joe Miñoso as Joe Cruz

When Cruz's arc does get resolved, it will be, far and away, the arc that has taken the longest to pay off. The conflict between the firefighter and the Insane Kings gang dates back to season one. It was one of the very first conflicts the character ever encountered. It seemed like he was in the clear when he left gang leader Flaco (Jose Antonio Garcia) to die in a house fire, but the sudden reemergence of his cousin, Junior (Richard Cabral) brought things full circle.

Cruz has definitely made some bad decisions over the last couple episodes, but we sincerely hope the firefighter sees the error of his ways and his able to lock Junior back up while maintaining his career and status on the show. Chicago Fire wouldn't be the same without him.