Chicago Fire hasn’t been the same since Gabby Dawson left the show in Season 6. However, a significant change in the actress’ life could bring her back to the Windy City after all. Is Monica Raymund returning to Chicago Fire? Keep reading to learn more about her potential comeback.
Chicago Fire is NBC’s drama series following the personal and professional lives of firefighters, paramedics, and other rescue personnel at the Chicago Fire Department’s fictional Firehouse 51. The series — which premiered in 2012 and was created by Dick Wolf, the same mind behind the Law & Order and FBI franchises — is the first show in NBC’s One Chicago franchise, which also includes Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.
From Seasons 1 to 6, actress Monica Raymund portrayed Gabby Dawson, the experienced, fast-thinking paramedic and head of Ambulance 61 who later became a firefighter on Truck 81. Dawson married fellow firefighter and captain Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer), earning the beloved couple the nickname “Dawsey” by fans.
However, in 2028, Raymund announced that she was leaving Chicago Fire to explore new creative opportunities and move back to California. “I mean, I’ve given six years of my life to that show and created a family there, so it was a bit like a dismemberment, if you will,” she told the Chicago Tribune in 2018. “I miss them terribly, of course. But I have the opportunity to start the next chapter of my life and I’m very much looking forward to that.”
Raymund continued: “I’m not sure the exact moment when it happened, but I knew that my six-year contract was coming to an end and I felt like I was hungry to explore a different role, a different story. I wanted to explore a different world. I had been in Chicago for five years and just personally where I was in my life, I was ready to create my home and kind of plant some roots in Los Angeles.”
So, is Monica Raymund returning to Chicago Fire? Here’s why Dawson could make her way back to the firehouse in the near future.
Is Monica Raymund returning to Chicago Fire?
Is Monica Raymund returning to Chicago Fire? We’re not sure, as neither NBC nor Monica Raymund has announced plans for Dawson to return to Chicago Fire. However, Gabby’s comeback to Firehouse 51 could arrive sooner rather than later due to a recent big change in the actress’ career in 2024.
Since 2020, Raymund has starred as Jackie Quiñonez in the Starz thriller Hightown — but not for long. Our sister site TV Line confirmed in December that the upcoming third season, premiering in January 2024, will be the show’s last. Although it’s unlikely for Dawson to appear in Chicago Fire Season 12, perhaps there’s a chance she’ll come back for Season 13 or later seasons. Especially with Kara Killmer and Alberto Rosende leaving, there’s a spot open for Dawson to return as a paramedic or firefighter.
With the way that Dawson left the procedural, it won’t be difficult for writers to bring her back (as they didn’t kill her off like other characters, thankfully). During the season 6 finale, “The Grand Gesture,” Dawson announced that she would be moving to Puerto Rico permanently to aid in hurricane relief and a have fresh start. Thankfully, her exit wasn’t completely permanent. Dawson returned in the season 7 premiere episode, “A Closer Eye,” after receiving a call from Casey asking about the status of their relationship. Ultimately, it was decided that “Dawsey” was officially over, and Casey later filed for divorce from Dawson. Raymund reprised her a second time in season 8, episode 9, when Dawson returned from Puerto Rico to tell Casey she still has feelings for him.
However, her return in 2024 would undoubtedly change the show’s dynamic. (Here’s everything that could happen in the firehouse if Dawson returns.) When Raymund left Chicago Fire, the actress said she didn’t renew her contract because she wanted to explore a different story. Now that she’s done that with Hightown, maybe there’s a chance she’ll return to the firefighter show in the future? We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
Season 12 of Chicago Fire returns on January 17, 2024, at 9 p.m. on NBC.
For more on Chicago Fire, check out our gallery of the best and worst Chicago Fire characters, ranked.
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