Dermot Mulroney and Joe Miñoso reportedly leaving Chicago Fire in Season 15

Joe Miñoso has spent 14 seasons as a fixture of Firehouse 51, while Dermot Mulroney arrived only in Season 13. Despite the disparity in their tenure, both actors are reportedly departing Chicago Fire early in the upcoming Season 15, stripping the series of both a long-term foundational pillar and its current leadership hierarchy.

Reports from USA TODAY, Entertainment Weekly, and Deadline indicate that both Mulroney and Miñoso will appear in a limited number of episodes at the start of the new season to resolve their respective story arcs. While NBC declined to confirm the reports when contacted by USA TODAY, the simultaneous exits signal a volatile transition for the NBC drama.

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The loss of Miñoso, who played firefighter Joe Cruz from the 2012 pilot before becoming a series regular in Season 2, significantly thins the show's original roster. Following his departure, only Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide) and David Eigenberg (Christopher Herrmann) remain as cast members from Season 1.

Mulroney’s exit follows a turbulent tenure as Chief Dom Pascal, a role designed to fill the void left by Eamonn Walker, who portrayed the iconic Wallace Boden from the series debut until Season 12. Mulroney's character had already been absent for the second half of Season 14 due to a storyline involving an arrest after Pascal disobeyed a federal agent's order to stand down during a house fire. Although federal charges were eventually dropped, the incident led to Pascal being told to vacate his position immediately.

Former showrunner Andrea Newman described Pascal's journey as one where he was not as closely connected to the 51 team as Boden had been. According to US Magazine, Newman noted that the arrest forced Pascal into a situation where he had to decide whether to "fight and claw" back to the firehouse or seek a new path, which initially led the character to consider a job in Phoenix.

The timing of Mulroney's permanent departure complicates the resolution of the Season 14 finale. In that episode, Pascal returned to interrogate Kelly Severide about his choice between becoming Chief of Firehouse 51 or Chief of Fire Investigation. The conversation was interrupted by a massive structure fire at a storage facility. As the roof threatened to collapse, a major explosion occurred, leaving several firefighters—including Joe Cruz—trapped inside.

While Pascal was one of the few characters safely outside the building when the explosion hit, his departure effectively removes the possibility that he will take permanent command of the scene to facilitate a return to the CFD.

This cast purge coincides with a leadership change behind the camera. Victor Teran is taking over as showrunner, replacing Andrea Newman after her 14-season tenure. To offset the losses, the series will introduce Da'Vinchi as a series regular playing Marcus Burke, a new firefighter candidate.

Mulroney's exit may be tied to other professional commitments. On July 31, he used an Instagram Story to list "film 'Chicago Fire'" as a priority, but he previously confirmed on The Tangle With Kyle Ridley podcast in May that he is expected to star in a sequel to the 2005 film "The Family Stone," titled "The Families Stone." He stated that Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Craig T. Nelson are all returning for the project.

Cast Member	Role	Tenure	Season 15 Status
Joe Miñoso	Joe Cruz	Seasons 1–14	Exiting early in season
Dermot Mulroney	Chief Dom Pascal	Seasons 13–14	Exiting early in season
Taylor Kinney	Kelly Severide	Season 1–Present	Returning
David Eigenberg	Christopher Herrmann	Season 1–Present	Returning

The production now faces the task of writing out two primary characters while resolving a disaster that put the lives of nearly every member of the firehouse at risk. The outcome will be revealed when Season 15 premieres on October 7.

Impact on Firehouse 51 Leadership

The departure of Chief Dom Pascal creates a specific vacancy in the command structure. While Pascal was outside the building during the Season 14 finale explosion, alongside Violet and Novak, he was previously attempting to persuade Kelly Severide to reject an offer from the Office of Fire Investigation (OFI) to remain at Firehouse 51. One Chicago Center reports that Pascal believed the team needed Severide's leadership and had encouraged him to take the captain's test for that reason.

The void left by Pascal's exit is linked to the earlier introduction of Battalion Chief Hopkins, played by Rob Morgan. According to US Magazine, Morgan stepped into the role after Pascal was removed from his position. This leadership instability follows the Season 12 exit of Eamonn Walker, who played the long-serving Chief Wallace Boden.

The production timeline indicates that both Mulroney and Miñoso will return for a limited number of episodes to conclude their arcs. Variety confirmed the new season premieres on October 7 at 9 p.m. ET, positioned between Chicago Med (Season 12) and Chicago P.D. (Season 14). One Chicago Center suggests that Mulroney's final appearance may occur as early as the premiere, potentially following a resolution to Severide's career choice.

For the characters trapped in the burning storage facility, the absence of a returning Chief Pascal removes a potential plot path where he might have taken command of the scene to secure his own reinstatement to the CFD. Resolving these cliffhangers while integrating the new candidate, Marcus Burke, will be the next step for Victor Teran as he begins his tenure as showrunner.