7 Possible Replacements for Leon Vance on NCIS

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Season 23 of NCIS will introduce a new director as Rocky Carroll’s character, Leon Vance, will be killed off in the show’s 500th episode. Carroll has played Vance since Season 5, taking over from Jenny Shepard after her character’s death. Although the actor didn’t decide to leave the series, Vance’s death is an emotional moment and a significant change for NCIS.

Leon Vance’s death happens during the final episode of Season 23, “All Good Things,” as NCIS is absorbed into Army CID. He assists the team in solving one last case with ties to Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and his actions ensure the agency’s survival. Although the show could introduce a new character, they might also choose someone viewers already know to take on a key role.

Alden Parker Is Already Filling In As NCIS Director

As Director Vance’s potential replacement, Alden Parker (Gary Cole) is a strong contender within the NCIS world. He originally stepped in to lead the team after Gibbs left, taking on a supervisory role with the FBI. Since then, Parker has consistently demonstrated his leadership abilities, making a promotion a natural next step in his career.

Parker, who was Vance’s second-in-command, is now acting as the NCIS director. A recent episode of NCIS hinted that he hasn’t officially started at headquarters, so Alden is currently in charge. However, the show might not replace Parker quickly, especially since they’ve already introduced him as the team’s leader.

Dwayne Pride Could Make A Comeback After NCIS: New Orleans

Dwayne Cassius Pride, known as “King” or “D-Man,” is a strong candidate to lead the NCIS agency. Scott Bakula portrays Pride as the leader of the team in NCIS: New Orleans, which first aired in 2014. The show ended in 2021 with Pride getting married and retiring from NCIS, but there’s still a possibility he could return to the original series.

Look, I’ve been following this actor for years, and while he’s become a beloved fixture in the New Orleans scene, his history with the NCIS universe is really key to understanding his current arc. He’s an old friend and someone Gibbs deeply trusted, and that relationship is getting a fascinating spotlight now that the prequel is showing us a younger version of him. It adds a whole new layer to the character and makes him feel incredibly relevant again.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs Could Come Out Of Retirement

Although it’s unlikely, many viewers would be thrilled to see Gibbs return. He led the NCIS team in Washington D.C. for over two decades, and a lot of fans stopped watching after he left, so his reappearance would be a great surprise.

Following a case that sends Gibbs to Alaska, he chooses to remain in Naktok Bay and shares an emotional farewell with Timothy McGee. Although Mark Harmon’s involvement in NCIS: Origins is limited to narration and occasional appearances as Gibbs, making a full return to NCIS seem improbable, many believe Gibbs would be an excellent choice to lead the team as director.

G. Callen Could Make A Comeback After NCIS: Los Angeles

Grisha Aleksandrovich Nikolaev Callen, known as G. Callen, is a Supervisory Special Agent with the Office of Special Projects (OSP) on NCIS: Los Angeles. Actor Chris O’Donnell plays Callen, who leads the OSP field team in the first NCIS spinoff series, which began in 2009 and is still running as of 2023.

Callen is a major character throughout the NCIS franchise, appearing in more than 300 episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles and various other NCIS shows. The finale of NCIS: Los Angeles suggests his story isn’t over, and his experience as a leader at the OSP makes him well-suited to continue in that role.

Sam Hanna Could Appear In The Flagship After NCIS: Los Angeles And Hawai’i

Osama “Sam” Hanna, a former Navy SEAL played by LL Cool J, is a familiar face to fans of the NCIS franchise. He first appeared as a special agent in NCIS: Los Angeles, working alongside Callen. After NCIS: Los Angeles concluded, Hanna’s character continued on, appearing in NCIS: Hawai’i.

Sam Hanna will be appearing in Season 3 of NCIS: Hawai’i, where he’ll be working with Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and leading the NCIS Elite team. However, his involvement in the show is brief. He later tells his team on Season 22 of NCIS that he’s taking a break, but there’s a possibility he could become director in Season 23.

Jane Tennant Could Balance The Flagship With A Female NCIS Director

Bringing back Special Agent-in-Charge Jane Tennant could be a great choice for the NCIS director position. She currently leads the NCIS Hawai’i Field Office and made history as the first woman and first Asian American to be a Special Agent-in-Charge in the NCIS franchise. Unfortunately, the cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i means her storyline will end prematurely.

Tennant, as the Special Agent in Charge of the Hawai’i Field Office, proves her leadership by overseeing numerous agents and critical investigations throughout the Pacific Rim. Bringing Jane back to the original series would allow the show to further develop her character and increase female representation within the largely male NCIS Headquarters, potentially as a director.

Timothy McGee Is The Best Choice For NCIS Director

As a long-time fan, I truly believe Timothy McGee is the perfect choice to lead NCIS now that the director position is open. He’s been a part of the show practically since the beginning – missing only the very first episode – and has grown with the team for all these years. No one understands the heart of NCIS quite like Tim, and I can’t imagine anyone better suited to take the reins.

While at headquarters, McGee has grown from a new, unsure agent to a key leader working alongside Parker and Vance. His experience and connections within the agency give him a lot of authority. However, his promotion means someone new will be joining the field team in the bullpen.

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2026-04-07 20:08