NBC Officially Separates One Chicago’s Best Pairing

Published Oct 19, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

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For over a decade, the One Chicago franchise has captivated viewers and brought tremendous relationships to life, including one that the NBC franchise has officially separated after 14 seasons together. Throughout the run of the franchise's shows, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med, each series has solidified its own identity with characters and dynamics that make up a unique system. The franchise's strongest stories have always examined how first responders are able to work with their backs against the wall, keeping their own personal lives somewhat balanced with their intense professional responsibilities, if that's possible at all.

With the One Chicago franchise choosing not to shy away from the tragedy that constantly befalls first responders, especially in a city as busy and dangerous as Chicago, the network of shows has said goodbye to many a character throughout its run. While some have had difficult, depressing fates, others have gotten the chance to leave the One Chicago franchise of their own volition, exiting their positions because of personal decisions or professional circumstances that force their hands. As the 2026-27 network TV season has gotten started, the One Chicago franchise's cast shake-ups have been intense and frequent, with one exit in particular changing an entire series.

Marking a major change in the makeup of Chicago P.D., the exit of LaRoyce Hawkins' Kevin Atwater, who's been part of the Intelligence Unit since the very beginning, has been a long time coming. Even so, NBC's choice to split Atwater and his long-time partner, Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) is a huge separation that will change the series forever.

LaRoyce Hawkins Exits Chicago PD After 14 Years

Though viewers were aware it was coming, seeing LaRoyce Hawkins exit the series was an incredibly tough blow. Hawkins, who played the Intelligence unit's Kevin Atwater through the entire 14 season run of Chicago P.D., was a massive presence on the series, and has spent well over a decade developing his character alongside the rest of the talented One Chicago actors. With Hawkins progressing from a uniformed patrol officer to an established member of the Intelligence unit throughout his time on the series, his arc wrapped up in an interesting way after 12 years on screen, working with Voight's team.

Atwater's exit, unlike some of the morally gray and complex departures that Chicago P.D. has seen in the past, saw the character moving forward with a new chapter after welcoming his son, Malcolm, with his partner, fellow officer Tasha Fox (Karen Obilom). After the birth of his son, Chicago P.D. season 14 episode 2, "Don't Blink", sees Atwater struggling to return to his work in the same way. After he's shot at by a suspect during a case, despite his bulletproof vest preventing injury, Atwater is shaken up and has to deliver harrowing news of a son's death to their father.

Feeling heavier than he ever has about his job, Atwater speaks to Voight about moving away from his work in the field, hopeful that he can transition into a teaching position at the police academy. With an opening in Atlanta, Atwater and Tasha decide to take the leap and move their young family away from Chicago, effectively removing the officer from Intelligence, but leaving the door open for the future.

Hawkins' Exit Effectively Separates Burgess & Atwater

NBC

Although Atwater's exit was a natural progression for his character, who's slowly been settling into a different life over the past few seasons of Chicago P.D., his exit changes more than the makeup of the Intelligence unit as a whole. Atwater's long-time partner, Kim Burgess, who's been an established part of his journey throughout the show's run, will be the most impacted by his departure. Burgess and Atwater were partners from the early days of Chicago P.D., and while it took Burgess longer to reach the Intelligence unit, the partnership the pair shared was one of the show's most enduring.

With the pair learning on the job together, Burgess and Atwater's established relationship made them an easy pair to turn to in difficult situations, even when their careers took turns that left them diverging from one another. The pair learned from one another as they grew into their positions, then beyond them. With Burgess and Atwater two of the only original characters left from Chicago P.D.'s early years, their friendship outside of work and their partnership within the Intelligence unit and beyond has been a major strength for the series. Their instincts and ability to trust each other have been unmatched.

Atwater's departure came on the heels of a case that showed him working with Burgess and Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger), which allowed the show to feature just how close the unit has become over the years. With each of the trio looking out for each other thoroughly, Chicago P.D. effectively ended the show's strongest partnership, but not before giving it one final outing.

Why Burgess & Atwater Are Actually One Chicago's Best Pairing

While Chicago P.D. has been showcasing different pairings throughout its run, Burgess and Atwater's relationship was one of the best on the series, and marked the show's strongest partnership to date. Throughout Chicago P.D.'s run, viewers have watched as various partners have come together and pulled apart, most notably the relationship between Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), which deteriorated prior to and after Soffer's exit during Chicago P.D. season 10. While Soffer, who returned to direct Hawkins' final episode of the series, and Spiridakos have since returned for a vague Upstead reunion, their characters' partnership isn't the show's best work.

Instead, the relationship between Burgess and Atwater has long been the one that others on Chicago P.D. should aspire to. While the pair have never been a romance, their mutual respect for one another and professional admiration has allowed Burgess and Atwater to embody a different kind of relationship as they've come to know and love each other. Sharing personal growth and professional hardships, successes, and in-betweens, the pair have gone through so much together than it makes their work all the more interesting to watch as it unfolds slowly from episode to episode.

With a familial connection between Atwater and Burgess, as well as the larger Intelligence unit, the exit will be a tough blow, changing the game for what comes next. Despite not knowing what the future holds for Chicago P.D., severing the tie between Atwater and Burgess despite their long-running professional relationship working well was a tough choice. Though NBC gave Atwater a solid goodbye, his departure costs Burgess and effectively ends their partnership, even if just for now.

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  Jason Beghe

  Hank Voight

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  Marina Squerciati

  Kim Burgess