In May 2023, One Chicago fans experienced a moment they won’t soon forget. The heartbreaking news that Nick Gehlfuss would not be returning as Dr. Will Halstead after Chicago Med’s eighth season was announced. Viewers were left shocked, emotional, and wondering if they'd ever see the talented actor step back into his iconic role or if this truly marked the end of Halstead’s journey at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
Sadly, we wouldn't see Gehlfuss in seasons 9 or 10. However, news broke in August 2025 that the fan-favorite actor would finally be making a highly anticipated return to Chicago Med in a guest-starring role for the show's eleventh season. The first episode of Chicago Med season 11 aired on NBC on Oct. 1, but there was no Halstead in sight. Fans were left to wait until the following week to find out whether Halstead would make his long-awaited comeback in the season’s second episode.
Episode 2 is set to air on NBC tonight at 8/7c, but it's already been confirmed that Halstead will indeed return. NBC recently released a bunch of photos from tonight's episode, and Halstead was in several of them. From the images, all we know is that Halstead is back at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center and may be assisting with a patient.
However, no specific details about the storyline, how long he’ll be on the show, or the circumstances of his return have been revealed. We'll just have to tune in to episode 2 to see how exactly Halstead makes his comeback. But in the meantime, let's delve into how the character was originally written out of Chicago Med after season 8. Perhaps you might also want to know the reason behind Gehlfuss's departure from the medical drama in the first place. Don't worry. We've got you covered!
How did Halstead's exit storyline play out in Chicago Med?
Halstead is an original character. He played a central role in Chicago Med from the very beginning, serving as a dedicated ED attending physician whose personal and professional journeys were closely followed by fans for seasons 1 through 8. Sadly, Halstead resigned from Gaffney Chicago Medical Center in the season 8 finale after accepting responsibility for tampering with a faulty medical device (OR 2.0) that endangered patients. He says his emotional goodbyes to the other doctors at the hospital and leaves. But it wasn't all bad. Following his departure, Halstead relocated to Seattle, where he reunited with his ex-fiancée, Dr. Natalie Manning, and her son, Owen.
That's the last time we see Halstead in Chicago Med. It'll be interesting to find out what he's been up to since leaving the hospital. Did he and Natalie finally get married? Could they have had a child of their own? With him returning to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center in Chicago Med season 11, I'm sure the other doctors will be curious about his personal life. One of the episode 2 photos shows Halstead talking with his ex-girlfriend, Dr. Hannah Asher. I wonder what that's all about. I can't wait to find out!
Why did Nick Gehlfuss exit Chicago Med?
No one ever wants to see their favorite character leave a show, and for fans of Chicago Med, Gehlfuss’s exit as Dr. Will Halstead was especially heartbreaking after eight seasons of following his journey. In an interview with Variety in May 2023, Gehlfuss explained his reasoning for departing the popular medical drama series.
He explained that leaving was a difficult but necessary decision, as he felt he had taken the Halstead character as far as he could creatively and was ready to explore new roles and challenges in his career. He even mentioned how he'd like to he'd like to try completely different types of roles, including outdoor or adventurous characters like a cowboy.
“It was a difficult decision, but ultimately, I felt I’d taken Dr. Halstead as far as I can go with him. I think that comes down to a creative part of you, or the energy or spirit you have that you’re either built for a very long time with one person or not. I am attracted to the profession for the variety in it, and eight years is a long time. It’s two college degrees! I’m joking now that I basically have a doctorate in television.”
“I’d love to be a cowboy. I’d love to get outdoors. I love being outside. Ultimately, I want to develop new, different characters. It was a real gift to be able to explore one character for eight years. TV allows that possibility of course, and so I look forward to doing so again.”
However, Gehlfuss didn't close the door on returning to the One Chicago universe, leaving open the possibility of reprising Halstead in future storylines if it made sense creatively. With his return in tonight's episode, it looks like that storyline finally came.
The second episode of Chicago Med season 11 airs tonight on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT.