Mark Harmon, who portrayed the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS for nearly 20 years, has recently sparked excitement among fans with surprising comments about the character’s future. Though Harmon officially exited the main series in 2021, he remains deeply involved behind the scenes, especially with the new prequel series NCIS: Origins.

Reflecting on his departure, Harmon explained that stepping away wasn’t a hard decision, but rather something that felt right for the story. He expressed contentment with how Gibbs’ arc concluded, calling it honest and appropriate for where the character was emotionally.

What really caught fans off guard was Harmon’s openness to possibly returning as Gibbs. While he hasn’t been asked directly to reprise the role, he made it clear he hasn’t closed the door. He’s leaving it up to the writers and believes the right story could bring Gibbs back into action.

For now, Harmon continues to leave his mark on the NCIS universe through NCIS: Origins, where he serves as narrator and appeared in the premiere. As the franchise grows, fans remain hopeful that Gibbs isn’t gone for good—just waiting for the perfect moment to reappear.