NCIS Unveils Mark Harmon & Michael Weatherly's MCRT Return As Gibbs & Tony

Published Sep 24, 2026, 7:22 AM EDT

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A few NCIS originals are officially back in CBS's new marketing push.

Well regarded as a TV institution, the procedural franchise is gearing up for what could be their biggest season in many years. CBS's fall 2026 lineup is full of many exciting shows, including top-rated projects, such as Justin Hartley's Tracker and Luke Grimes' Marshals, but there's one thing that NCIS sets it apart from its fellow crime shows — a long history on TV. As such, CBS is leaning on nostalgia for its upcoming comeback.

CBS is maintaining its Super Tuesday scheduling approach, albeit with some changes. NCIS: Origins season 3 slides up to the 10 pm ET slot and in its original 9 pm ET block will be NCIS: New York — a new spinoff marking the return of LL Cool J's Sam Hanna to the universe. Meanwhile, the flagship maintains its opening timeslot. Aside from the former OSP member, a couple of more legacy characters are coming back to rejoin the fun, with Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly reprising their respective roles as Old Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tony Dinozzo.

In the latest marketing push for NCIS franchise's exciting new cycle, CBS unveils more of the return of Old Gibbs, Dinozzo, and Hanna with an extensive trailer. Clocking in at just a minute, the clip is packed with new scenes from NCIS season 24, NCIS: New York, and NCIS: Origins season 3, mixing previously-released scenes with new ones. The focus of the trailer, however, is on homecoming for these legacy characters. Watch the video below:

Of course, there are other things to be excited about other than these comebacks. NCIS season 23 ended with a major cliffhanger involving Timothy McGee's secret son, Matteo, not to mention the return of Gabriel LaRoche, who is making a play at the organization's directorship after Director Leon Vance's death. Meanwhile, NCIS: Origins season 2 wrapped with the culmination of Young Gibbs and Lala's slow-burn romance, and now, it's curious what's next for them. There was also Randy's kidnapping, which will likely tie to the prequel's modern story.

As for NCIS: New York, just the fact that a new spinoff in the vein of the universe's classic expansion approach is worth looking forward to. Despite the kerfuffle brought about by Scott Caan's recasting as Nick Schaeffer, the promo clips from the offshoot reveals an energetic dynamic between him and Sam, increasing the chances that viewers may be able to accept him not as Hawaii Five-0's Danny Williams. Ultimately, it sounded as if the people behind NCIS: New York really wanted Caan for the role despite previously existing in the universe. At the very least, everyone should check it out before making their final judgment.

The NCIS franchise promo makes the perfect case for why network TV is a great avenue for storytelling. As people move to streaming and seasons get shorter and fewer, there's something comforting about being able to grow up with a show. This is something that non-traditional broadcasting projects do not have, and CBS is clearly taking advantage of that.