Even though Chicago Fire has to compete with Grey’s Anatomy for the

title of the most cruel show when it comes to writing off its characters, it is the

least painful one that ended up affecting the fandom the most in season 12.

The end of Chief Boden’s arc opens up a lot of possibilities for his character in the universe. However, now that Eamonn Walker is officially no longer a regular on Chicago Fire, his appearances will be very limited, and viewers are already devastated by that. What led to the decision to write off one of the show’s main characters, and was there any behind-the-scenes drama? Here’s what we know so far.

Why Did Eamonn Walker Leave Chicago Fire?
First, it is important to note that from what we know so far, the actor is not leaving the show entirely. After spending more than a decade leading Firehouse 51 on some of the toughest calls, Chief Boden is moving up the career ladder and the actor portraying him is taking a well-deserved step back to catch his breath.

Will Boden continue to appear on the show? Based on all publicly available information, he is expected to, but in a limited capacity. We may see him once or twice during the season, sharing his expertise and wisdom with his team, but it’s best not to get too excited about those scenes.

The actor’s departure was first announced in a Deadline article and then confirmed by the events of the season 12 finale, Never Say Goodbye, which aired on May 22. Since then, viewers have been waiting for some sort of comment from the actor, but there hasn’t been one.

While there may still be something that the cast and crew have mutually decided not to go public with, it is more likely that Walker left the project on his own. After all, after spending so many years in one role, any actor would want to explore other opportunities or simply spend some time with his loved ones.

From what is publicly known, the decision did not come as a result of any conflict, which is good news. While it doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to a beloved character, knowing that the crew and cast behind Chicago Fire are still standing strong is heartwarming for many die-hard fans of the show.