Chicago P.D. Star Leaving Forever After Season 11

Following her debut in Chicago P.D. as Detective Hailey Upton, Tracy Spiridakos’ character quickly became an essential addition to the Intelligence Unit. Upton was known for her intelligence, assertiveness, and strong moral compass. Her storylines often explored complex issues such as police corruption, organized crime, and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field.

Upton’s (Tracy Spiridakos) partnership with Detective Jay Halstead, portrayed by Jesse Lee Soffer, was a central focus of her character arc. The two shared a deep professional and personal connection, which led to their romantic involvement.

Tracy Spiridakos’ departure comes on the heels of Jesse Lee Soffer’s exit from the series. Soffer, who played Jay Halstead and Upton’s on-screen husband, chose to leave Chicago P.D. after a decade on the show. Soffer’s exit was written into the 10th season, with his character leaving for an Army task in Bolivia. While the move was supposed to be temporary, it was written in as permanent.

Interestingly, Jesse Lee Soffer hinted that his character might return for a cameo before Tracy Spiridakos’ departure. “Never say never,” the actor told Variety when asked about a possible return. “I feel so bad for the fans that are like, ‘Is he going to come back?’ ‘What’s he going to do?’ ‘What’s going on with him and Hailey?’

“I like to think – and I hope the fans think this too – that he’s just in another country right now, doing what he does best and making the world a safer place,” Soffer continued. In a family, sometimes somebody moves away or goes to college somewhere else. I still love it. I still love the fans. And I still love Halstead. Halstead’s always going to be in my blood. That’s never going to change.”

Tracy Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton has also made appearances in the spinoff series Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and FBI, adding to the interconnected world of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago universe. In Chicago Med, Upton worked with medical professionals, often bringing injured suspects or victims to the hospital while creating relationships with the medical team.

Upton also crossed over to Chicago Fire to similarly underline the close relationship between the firehouse and the police department. Tracy Spiridakos’ appearances in this series usually revolved around joint operations and incidents where fire and police services intersected. One of the most notable crossovers was Upton making an appearance in the CBS series FBI.

This event demonstrated the expansive storytelling potential of the One Chicago universe, expanding beyond the traditional Chicago shows into a broader crime-fighting context.

Season 10 of Chicago P.D. came to a close with Adam Ruzek’s (Patrick Flueger) life hanging in the balance. Ruzek was shot and rushed to the hospital after losing a significant amount of blood. The events leading up to this critical moment have left viewers anxious for answers, setting the stage for what promises to be an action-packed final season with Tracy Spiridakos.

However, the exact premiere date for Season 11 remains uncertain due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has disrupted production schedules. Although writers have resumed work, the timing for the season’s launch is still up in the air. Gwen Sigan is set to return as showrunner, with Season 11 delivering more of the high-stakes drama that has made Chicago P.D. a favorite.

The number of episodes in Chicago P.D. Season 11 that Tracy Spiridakos is expected to appear in remains to be seen.