CBS Replaces NCIS’s Most Badass Character After 17 Years Narratively

Published Sep 17, 2026, 12:27 PM EDT

Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.

NCIS has some major changes coming this fall with the inclusion of a new series that will see CBS replacing its most badass character in the narrative after 17 years within the franchise. CBS' fall lineup includes a Tuesday night dedicated to the three NCIS shows, including the flagship series ringing in NCIS season 24, NCIS: Origins season 3, and the premiere of a new show, NCIS: New York. With the franchise calling up one of the best from NCIS: Los Angeles in LL Cool J's Sam Hanna to lead up a whole new field office, the series is exciting.

NCIS: New York is taking on quite a few firsts as it gets into gear. The series, which sees Sam heading back to his native New York after a personal tragedy, is said to be a darker, edgier show, which could be an interesting twist to the often formulaic series. NCIS: New York is also breaking a major rule for the first time in the franchise's history, as Scott Caan will be the second lead of the series alongside LL Cool J, playing Nick Schaeffer even after a previous NCIS franchise appearance as his former Hawaii Five-0 character, Danny Williams.

With NCIS: New York already breaking the rules when it comes to the franchise's previous norms, it's clear that the series isn't trying to fit the mold of a standard NCIS series. This rule-breaking becomes all the more obvious after realizing the series is replacing the franchise's most badass characters.

NCIS: New York Officially Gives Sam Hanna A New Partner

CBS

While it doesn't seem like the most revelatory thing in the world, NCIS: New York is giving Sam a new partner as he leads up the field office in the city. Sam, who partnered with G. Callen (Chris O'Donnell) throughout the run of NCIS: Los Angeles, coming to New York to open up an NCIS field office is already a gamble, and doing so without a partner in general wouldn't make much sense. Beginning NCIS: New York with a new partner will bolster the dynamics of the show quickly, and the character breakdown of Schaeffer will play well against Sam.

Caan, who previously appeared as Danny from Hawaii Five-0 within the NCIS universe, will be playing the New York detective who's described as "roguish" in the show's logline, will likely push the boundaries while Sam tries to stay on the straight and narrow. The pair's dynamic could be a fun way to change who the audience knows Sam is, or unlock new pieces of his personality as the series moves forward. Sam and Nick's partnership will be a very different one from the partnership that Hanna cultivated on NCIS: Los Angeles, which could be a great sign for the series.

With NCIS: New York leaning into a refresh for Sam in more ways than one, knowing that Nick is a very different person than Sam's previous partner, Callen, makes it all the more obvious that the series isn't trying to rinse and repeat the massive success of NCIS: Los Angeles.

Why G Callen Is NCIS's Most Badass Character

Although O'Donnell's Callen won't be joining NCIS: New York in any known capacity, his character is one for the ages. Across the entire NCIS franchise, characters have endured and built impressive resumes, but none have done so more than Callen. Introduced during the backdoor pilot for NCIS: Los Angeles, Callen spent the next 14 seasons operating as the lead agent on the series, taking on dangerous assignments and high-risk counter terrorism operations that put his life at stake. Unlike other agents throughout the NCIS franchise, Callen's identity itself was a mystery that was investigated throughout the show's historic 14-season run.

Callen's backstory is the most fascinating of the entire NCIS franchise, as he grew up only knowing himself as "G." Bouncing through foster homes throughout his younger years, Callen developed hyper vigilance that served him throughout his youth, and then during his time in the military before coming to NCIS. While he put on a massive display of psychological toughness, that wasn't the only thing that defined Callen as NCIS: Los Angeles continued. Instead, Callen was able to use his adaptability to survive everything thrown at him and his team, building an intense resume and a high-functioning NCIS field team.

Callen's long journey also gave him a genuine sense of character growth, one that has gone unmatched throughout the rest of the NCIS franchise during its run. After spending much of his life as a lone-wolf, Callen was able to establish a true family for himself, which led to stability.

What Happened To Callen After NCIS: Los Angeles (Will He Ever Come To New York?)

Although NCIS: New York would surely welcome a visit from Callen in the future, it seems highly unlikely that he'll be around on the show's newest series anytime soon. Chris O'Donnell, who plays Callen, is currently working on 9-1-1: Nashville as the lead, which likely ties up too much of his time to appear on the CBS series. Regardless, it's possible that NCIS: New York could get a visit from Callen sometime in the future, especially since things were left open-ended for Callen at the end of NCIS: Los Angeles. Callen had reached a new place at the show's end.

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There have been hints about what's happened to Callen throughout Sam's appearances within the NCIS franchise in the past few years, with him having been a part of the flagship series during a season 22 episode. Sam revealed that Callen and his wife, Anna, whose relationship unfolded throughout NCIS: Los Angeles' run, were doing well and were expecting a child. With Callen less of a lone wolf than ever, it's likely that things have changed for him both in priority and within his profession as a whole. Callen's future may not have as much space for the high-intensity of NCIS.

While there's no official word on whether O'Donnell will be able to jump in for an appearance on NCIS: New York in the future, Callen will always be someone that Sam is attached to. Unfortunately, with him out of the picture, there's space for NCIS to replace him as the most badass character in the franchise.

Cast

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  LL Cool J

  Sam Hanna

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  Scott Caan

  Nick Schaeffer

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  Jennifer Beals

  Robyn Wells

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  Jacqueline Byers

  Addison Ross