CBS Confirms Rocky Carroll’s NCIS Return After Vance’s Death (& It’s Shockingly Soon)

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Rocky Carroll is officially coming back to NCIS, but with a caveat.

It looks like the current seasons of NCIS (2025-2026) represent the last attempt to revitalize the show. After Mark Harmon’s departure as Gibbs, a refresh was essential, and now, several years later, the series seems to be nearing its conclusion. Season 23 has included significant events like the returns of Vera Strickland and Ellie Bishop, and the milestone 500th episode, but ended on a somber note with the death of Vance.

Though it’s sad to see him go, the way Vance died on NCIS was the show’s most impactful death yet. The writers not only crafted a powerful scene, but also paid tribute to his long and important history with the series. Unlike a recent death on 9-1-1, Vance’s death feels final, and it’s very unlikely CBS will reverse it. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean actor Rocky Carroll won’t appear on the show again in a different capacity.

According to NCISVerse on Instagram, actor Rocky Carroll is back at the Navy Yard set, but this time he’s directing! He’s helming episode 16 of NCIS season 23, titled “S.O.S.” You can see official photos from the set below.

Mark Harmon, who famously played the director on NCIS for nearly twenty years, has also directed many episodes of the show. Now, he’s back directing his former colleagues, suggesting his work behind the camera may outlast his time as an on-screen character. With CBS renewing NCIS for another season, it raises the question of whether he’ll continue directing in the future.

Per the official brief for “S.O.S.,” it sounds like it’s more focused on the weekly case itself rather than a new development on any of NCIS season 23’s overarching narratives. It will involve MCRT tackling the mysterious resurfacing of a Navy lieutenant, whose suspiciously vanished. “As the team peels back the mystery of a crash that was anything but accidental, every answer sparks a new twist,” the synopsis reveals. Whether the outing will include a new update on the hunt for Vance’s replacement is uncertain at this point.

Although Harmon didn’t want Vance to leave the show, Carroll adjusted to the idea after the first shock. It’s tough to see such a long-running character go, but Vance’s departure creates exciting new possibilities for the show’s storylines, and could even lead to Timothy McGee being promoted. Thankfully, Carroll will still be involved with NCIS as a director.

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2026-04-14 04:56