If you have been a Chicago Fire fan since day one, then you have become accustomed to the cast changes that frequently shakeup the show across its 14 seasons and counting. Over the course of nearly 300 episodes, many cast members and characters have entered and exited the One Chicago Universe, and Chicago Fire has seen some of the biggest unexpected departures over the years. This season in particular marks the exits of not one, not two, but three cast members.
After debuting in season 12 and also starring season 13 as Kelly Severide's half-brother Jack Damon, Michael Bradway quickly became a new fan-favorite in the One Chicago Universe. Damon's dashing good looks and unpredictable personality stirred up some exciting drama at Firehouse 51, but he's sadly one of the three characters who's not returning for Chicago Fire season 14.
Bradway's exit from Chicago Fire has been met with some frustration from fans who were growing to really love Damon, and there's definitely a certain level of shock since he shares DNA with one of the longest-tenured stars and heartbeats of the series. Going into the season 14 premiere, fans definitely still have lots of questions about Bradway's departure, how Damon's exit from the series is explained, and whether there's a chance we could see hime back in Firehouse 51 in the future.
There’s a reason why Chicago Fire didn’t bring Michael Bradway back for season 14
Unfortunately, Damon's departure wasn't set up in the Chicago Fire season 13 finale, which means fans are curious as to why the show opted not to bring him back. While budget cuts are likely to blame for the exits of Jake Lockett as Sam Carver and Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter, Bradway leaving as a series regular doesn't appear to have solely financial reasons as an explanation.
After season 13 wrapped, Michael Bradway joined the cast of Prime Video's upcoming series Every Summer After, which is based on the best-selling novel by Carley Fortune. The actor will play Charlie, one of the main characters in the series. Every Summer After began filming over the summer and remains in production, which resulted in scheduling conflicts for Bradway's availability.
Even though Damon won't be seen in the Chicago Fire season 14 premiere or the early part of the season, the door has been left open for him to return as Damon in the future, perhaps by the end of the season. Unlike Lockett and Kyri's exits, Bradway's comes with the option for an eventual return. But the question remains as to what would bring him back to Firehouse 51 and for how long.
What happened to Damon on Chicago Fire season 14?
In spite of knowing that Michael Bradway had to walk away from his role as Jack Damon in Chicago Fire season 14 due to his role in Every Summer After, there are still unanswered questions about what the future holds for Damon at Firehouse 51. How does the show write him out, and is it an ending that leaves the door open for Damon to return the season? Season 14 will hopefully reveal all.
In the first episode of the season, Damon's absence is mentioned by Mouch, who says that he has been transferred. Currently, it hasn't been revealed where Damon has been transferred to or why he has been transferred, only that he has moved out of this firehouse. It's definitely a sudden dynamic shift since the episode picks up so closely to where season 13 left off, but things happen.
The way that Damon has been written off so far, having it be off screen and very casual without many concrete details, leaves the door open for Bradway to eventually reprise his role at some point in the future, whether as a guest star or a series regular again. It's unclear how or when that would happen, as the story would have to warrant Damon's return, but we're keeping our fingers crossed!
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock.