Taylor Kinney, Miranda Rae Mayo Return to 'Chicago Fire' as Season 14 Prepares for Major Shake-Up

After months away, NBC’s beloved firefighter drama is ready to make its grand comeback, and Season 14 promises to deliver significant changes to Firehouse 51. The upcoming installment will air on Wednesday, October 1, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes streaming on Peacock the following day.

Cast Changes Shape the New Season

The Season 14 lineup retains most of its familiar faces, with Taylor Kinney returning as Kelly Severide and Miranda Rae Mayo reprising her role as Stella Kidd. However, the season marks a transitional period for the ensemble. Daniel Kyri, who plays Darren Ritter, will appear in limited episodes as his character wraps up his storyline, while Jake Lockett’s Sam Carver departure from Firehouse 51 creates an opening for new dynamics within the crew.

Dermot Mulroney continues as Chief Dom Pascal, the firehouse’s strict leader who emerged in Season 13 following Eamonn Walker’s departure from the role of Chief Wallace Boden. Other returning cast members include David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Joe Miñoso, Hanako Greensmith, Jocelyn Hudon, and KaDee Strickland. Brandon Larracuente joins the cast in an undisclosed capacity.

What Fans Can Expect

Season 14 will feature a total of 21 episodes, down from the 2024-25 season count. The new season builds on several cliffhangers from the finale: Stella Kidd discovers she’s pregnant while becoming an approved adoptive parent with Severide, while Sam Carver’s move to Denver leaves unresolved tension with Violet Mikami.

Behind the scenes, showrunner Andrea Newman has hinted at turbulent times ahead. “We’re going to have a lot of turnover and a lot of craziness going on in the CFD from the top, where people are being cut and moved, and everything’s going to get shaken up next season,” she explained. The storyline will explore departmental layoffs and structural changes that ripple through the firehouse crew.

Notable Developments

Chief Dom Pascal’s complex character arc continues as he solidified his position after being cleared of accusations related to his wife Monica’s death. His partnership with Severide to expose Illinois state trooper corruption adds another layer to the season’s intrigue. Meanwhile, longtime firefighters Mouch and Herrmann navigate career crossroads, with Herrmann stepping back to firefighter status so Mouch can assume the lieutenant position on the engine.

The question of whether fans will see Sam Carver return to tie up loose ends with Violet remains open, though Newman suggested his storyline isn’t completely closed.

As of early September, NBC hasn’t released promotional material or a full trailer for the season, but expect updates as the October premiere approaches.