TV

Gibbs has a season-long arc in the 'NCIS' prequel series.

Gibbs is back!

Five years after he left NCIS, Mark Harmon returns as Leroy Jethro Gibbs for a special season-long, 10-episode arc on prequel series NCIS: Origins. The character’s story will see him investigating a present-day mystery tied to his days at Camp Pendleton in the 1990s. 

On Wednesday, CBS revealed the first look at Harmon as Gibbs in the season 3 premiere, titled “Don’t You Forget About Me.” In the episode, the ghosts Gibbs’ past finally catch up to him, shattering his peaceful retirement in Alaska. Meanwhile, in 1992, the team races to rescue a kidnapped Randy (Caleb Foote) while Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and Lala (Mariel Molino) deal with the aftermath of their kiss.

In one photo from the episode, a troubled-looking Gibbs sits next to his dog. In another, he holds a piece of paper while standing in someone’s living room. 

In NCIS Season 19, Gibbs retired after a long career in the Navy, moving to Alaska to live out his life in peace and solitude. That left the door open for Gibbs to return to the NCISverse in some way in the future. 

“What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging,” Harmon said in an NCIS Season 19 DVD featurette (via ET). “Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK with.”

“I’m not retired… The character is living in Alaska as far as I know,” he added.

Much to the delight of fans, Harmon did eventually make his way back to the franchise. He narrates every episode of NCIS: Origins, on which he is an executive producer, along with his son, Sean Harmon. He also appeared onscreen as Gibbs in the Origins series premiere in 2024 and made a special guest appearance during the first crossover event between NCIS and NCIS: Origins in November 2025. 

NCIS: Origins Season 3 premieres Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Episodes stream on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).  

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