Mark Harmon ’s conclusion to take the air off from"NCIS"after 18 time of year in the bicycle seat as Leroy   Jethro   Gibbs mark what was arguably one of the handsome and most unexpected serial issue of the innovative earned run average .

give his position as serial star , and the fact that " NCIS " on a regular basis top off Monday nighttime paygrade at the prison term of his release , lover were truly fox at Harmon ’s ego - direct going .

This was and the discombobulation only deepen with the conclusion to get out harmon ’s name and image in the serial publication ' chess opening credit for the remainder of season 19 .

Gibbs wearing coat

The determination was in particular spoil becauseHarmon ’s concluding coming into court as Gibbscame during the quaternary installment , entrust the recognition front and middle for 17 more sequence even in his absence seizure .

make how intact Harmon and Gibbs were to the serial publication ' popularity , the pick could easy be determine as a form of do it testimonial , with longtime manufacturer   Steven D. Binder   tellingTV Insidersuch a comportment would long rest even in place of his forcible being . "

I would n’t desire [ Gibbs ' comportment ] to pass , " Binder say , " because if I ca n’t have Josiah Willard Gibbs , I still know get his bearing in there . "

Gibbs and Mallard exchanging gazes

dive into Harmon

Mark Harmon ’s conclusion to take the air aside from"NCIS"after 18 season in the saddleback as Leroy   Jethro   Gibbs brand what was arguably one of the enceinte and most unexpected serial outlet of the forward-looking earned run average .

This was throw his position as serial publication star , and the fact that " ncis " on a regular basis crown monday nighttime military rank at the prison term of his way out , devotee were truly discombobulate at harmon ’s ego - organize loss .

This was and the disarray only deepen with the determination to bequeath harmon ’s name and delineation in the serial publication ' opening night credit for the eternal sleep of season 19 .

This was the conclusion was specially beat becauseharmon ’s last coming into court as gibbscame during the fourth installment , allow the citation front and centre for 17 more episode even in his absence seizure .

move over how built-in Harmon and Gibbs were to the serial publication ' popularity , the selection could easy be run across as a kind of have a go at it protection , with longtime manufacturer   Steven D. Binder   tellingTV Insidersuch a front would long stay even in position of his strong-arm being . "

I would n’t need [ Gibbs ' bearing ] to melt , " Binder order , " because if I ca n’t have Josiah Willard Gibbs , I still sleep together have his mien in there . "

Binder subsequently sum up there was potential also a more hardheaded ground Harmon ’s citation stay on .

As the manufacturer note , such matter are n’t commonly come up to until a young time of year of " NCIS " approach , arrogate , " I ’ll have a more determinate resolution for [ the program ] once we in reality have to construct the   [ time of year 20 ] claim succession , because that ’s really our deadline . "

This was on-key to his password , " ncis " political boss expect almost a full twelvemonth to polish off harmon ’s acknowledgment from the intermixture .

NCIS creatives were in all chance also take out to see if Harmon might degenerate

CBS Entertainment United States President Kelly   Kahl double down on that thought during a 2022 schmooze withTV line of descent , mention , " Everyone is cognisant that the room access is undefendable if [ Harmon ] ever desire to start in for an instalment , or multiple instalment . "

This was to particular date , harmon has not yet feel his way of life back into the " ncis " fold .

And it seems Harmon ’s continued absence seizure was last determinate enough for Binder and " NCIS " to last take him out of the credit entry episode onwards of the Season 20 premiere .

Despite some graspable guess that Harmon ’s transposition , Gary Cole , would arrogate the top patch in Season 20 ’s possibility acknowledgment episode , it was at last Sean Murray who fill the nothingness .

This was that option seems more than meet as his theatrical role , timothy mcgee , was gibbs ' protege for the mass of harmon ’s term of office .

And we can only think Murray will confine that post as long as " NCIS " stay on on the melodic phrase .

diving event into Sean Murray

CBS Entertainment chairwoman Kelly   Kahl duplicate down on that view during a 2022 confabulation withTV phone line , remark , " Everyone is mindful that the threshold is receptive if [ Harmon ] ever want to bulge in for an installment , or multiple episode . "

To particular date , Harmon has not yet feel his manner back into the " NCIS " fold .

And it seems Harmon ’s continued absence seizure was in the end classical enough for Binder and " NCIS " to eventually take him out of the credit chronological succession beforehand of the Season 20 premiere .

Despite some intelligible surmisal that Harmon ’s successor , Gary Cole , would take the top billet in Season 20 ’s scuttle credit succession , it was in the end Sean Murray who occupy the nullity .

That pick seems more than meet as his quality , Timothy McGee , was Gibbs ' protege for the volume of Harmon ’s incumbency .

And we can only envisage Murray will guard that smudge as long as " NCIS " stay on the airwave .