Mark Harmon is officially returning to NCIS as Leroy Jethro Gibbs for a special crossover episode that will span NCIS season 23 and NCIS: Origins season 2. The two-hour event, airing on Veterans Day (November 11), will be connected by a single case that bridges the past and present of the beloved franchise.
Since retiring from the procedural, Gibbs has been living a quiet life in Alaska and hasn’t appeared in the flagship series – even for major episodes like Ducky’s farewell or the 1000th episode. His only recent presence was a brief cameo in the NCIS: Origins pilot, where he reflected on his early years in the agency.
Now, CBS confirms that Harmon will reprise his role in the Origins portion of the crossover, giving fans their first real update on Gibbs since his departure. Co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal teased:
“Four years ago, Gibbs disappeared to Alaska to live a life of solitude. We know how much fans have missed him. Well, on Nov. 11, Mark Harmon will return as Gibbs in the Origins hour of the NCIS crossover event. We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Gibbs is no longer alone.”
Harmon shared his excitement about returning, saying:
“I’m very proud of the storytelling that David and Gina are doing on Origins. They came to me with an idea for Gibbs that I liked, and it felt like the right time to check in with him. I hope fans enjoy it.”
For the event, NCIS and Origins will switch time slots to better serve the story. The crossover begins with the Origins team at Camp Pendleton investigating a mysterious case that ultimately leads to Parker’s team in Washington, D.C.
While details remain under wraps, the biggest revelation is that Gibbs is no longer living alone in Alaska – a twist sure to fuel speculation about who’s keeping him company. Whether or not it ties back to Origins characters like Lala remains to be seen, but fans can look forward to finally catching up with Gibbs after years of silence.
