Why did Leroy Jethro Gibbs leave NCIS? Exit explored

Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS is one of the most beloved characters of NCIS. While Harmon exited the show several times, those breaks were brief, and he was always back.

But Harmon officially quit NCIS in Season 19 because he thought it was time for him to move on, take on other challenging and creative projects, and say goodbye to his character Gibbs.

In the show, Gibbs has worked tirelessly for 18 seasons, being the face of the federal team. He wanted to retire peacefully and live a quiet life in Alaska, fishing and bathing in the sun. To fulfill this wish, he retires from the team in Season 19.

While Harmon left the show, he is still a part of the show's universe as he returned as the narrator for NCIS: Origins, which follows the story of young Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell.

More on Gibbs' exit from NCIS in our story.

Why did Leroy Jethro Gibbs leave NCIS?

While Harmon had planned to quit NCIS in Season 18, he appeared in a few episodes of Season 19 to give his character the proper goodbye it deserved after surviving 18 seasons on the show.

Gibbs solved his last case before retirement, where he pursued the serial killer Paul LeMere, but the team soon realized that he was associated with a bigger conspiracy with Sonova Industries, headed by CEO Sonia Eberhart, whose latest copper mining project was a threat to the area and was causing environmental damage.

She had hired the killer to kill anyone who would disclose the environmental dangers of the project and sabotage it. However, Gibbs and McGee uncover the truth, but Gibbs breaks laws on the way, including vehicle theft, which could put him behind bars as a federal agent.

While higher authorities ordered Parker to arrest Gibbs, he felt his boss did not deserve this and let Gibbs go. Gibbs retired in NCIS Season 19 in Alaska, where he is seen living a quiet life, fishing with McGee, and has a peaceful life for the first time since his wife and kid's death.

Is Leroy Jethro Gibbs coming back to NCIS?

Mark Harmon and Austin Stowell (Image via CBS Mornings)

Mark Harmon has continued his role as an executive producer on NCIS, and seeing that his character retired for a peaceful life in Alaska, we can expect him, maybe in a cameo, in the show's future episodes.

While Gibbs' return in Season 19 was permanent, and he has not returned, he is still a part of the show's universe, as established by NCIS: Origins, where he briefly appeared in the premiere as the show's narrator and reprised his role as Old Gibbs.

Showrunner Steve Binder took to his Instagram to reiterate that Gibbs is always a part of the show,

''...Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show ... Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years…never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.''

Who replaced Leroy Jethro Gibbs when he left NCIS?

While NCIS has seen many cast exits throughout the seasons, Harmon's exit is still one of the biggest losses for the show because he was the main character and the face of the show for 18 seasons.

But luckily, the show managed to do well even after Gibbs' exit, partly because of Gary Cole's Alden Parker filling in his shoes. Not only did Parker help Gibbs escape the police on his last case, which cost him his job, but he also took on his leadership position once he was back.

While Parker's leadership style was more laid-back than Gibbs' strict persona, he managed to get on and continue in his boss' footsteps.