NCIS season 23

NCIS season 23

The twenty-third season of NCIS was announced on February 20, 2025 by CBS and premiered on October 14, 2025. In January 2026, the series was renewed for a 24th season. This season also includes the series' 500th episode.

This is the final season to feature Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance.

Premise

NCIS season 23

NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., the NCIS team is led by Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker, an ex-FBI Special Agent and a skilled investigator.

Cast and characters

Main

• Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, NCIS Senior Special Agent, Second in Command of MCRT • Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres, NCIS Special Agent • Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, NCIS Special Agent • Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, Chief Medical Examiner for NCIS • Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines, Forensic Specialist for NCIS • Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance, NCIS Director (episodes 1–13) • Gary Cole as Alden Parker, NCIS Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) of the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) assigned to Washington's Navy Yard and former FBI Special Agent

Special guest star

• Emily Wickersham as Eleanor "Ellie" Bishop, former NCIS Special Agent

Recurring cast

• Rebecca De Mornay as Carla Marino, the boss of the Kansas City Mob. • Zane Holtz as Dale Sawyer, NCIS Special Agent • Victoria Kelleher as Barbara Dunsley, NCIS Accountant • Roma Maffia as Vera Strickland, retired NCIS Special Agent

Notable guests

• Nancy Travis as Harriet Parker, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and Parker's sister • Adam Campbell as Young Ducky

Crossover

• Bobby Moynihan as Woodrow "Woody" Browne, retired NIS forensic analyst • Ely Henry as Philip Elertson, retired NIS forensic chemist

Episodes

NCIS season 23

<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th><th>Prod. code</th><th>U.S. viewers (millions)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>488</td><td>1</td><td>"Prodigal Son"</td><td>Diana Valentine</td><td>Christopher J. Waild</td><td>October 14, 2025 (2025-10-14)</td><td>2301</td><td>5.33</td></tr><tr><td>489</td><td>2</td><td>James Whitmore Jr.</td><td>October 21, 2025 (2025-10-21)</td><td>2302</td><td>5.79</td></tr><tr><td>Parker goes to extremes to apprehend Carla Marino, to Vance's objections. Flashbacks show Parker's troubled youth and his estranged sister Harriet (Nancy Travis), now a Navy Vice Admiral, unsuccessfully trying to get him to change his ways. Parker's quest for revenge culminates in him stowing away on the ship Carla is on, and Harriet being forced to give an order to fire a bomb at the ship, realizing at the last second that Parker is on it.The ship is detonated, but not by Harriet's missile. Marino had put a doppelganger on the ship to fake her death and kidnap her granddaughter to bring her into the crime ring. Parker, who had escaped the ship himself, discreetly works the case at Gibbs' old cabin alongside McGee, while the team works to rescue Marino's granddaughter. Meanwhile, Palmer discovers Marino may not have been the true killer of Parker's father.</td></tr><tr><td>490</td><td>3</td><td>"The Sound and the Fury"</td><td>Tawnia McKiernan</td><td>Scott Williams</td><td>October 28, 2025 (2025-10-28)</td><td>2303</td><td>5.37</td></tr><tr><td>Torres and Knight work with night shift agent Dale Sawyer (Zane Holtz) on a blackmail case, and Torres begins to experience supernatural occurrences.</td></tr><tr><td>491</td><td>4</td><td>"Gone Girls"</td><td>Rocky Carroll</td><td>Amy Rutberg</td><td>November 4, 2025 (2025-11-04)</td><td>2304</td><td>5.45</td></tr><tr><td>The team investigates a Marine suspected of kidnapping the wife of a high-ranking official, and Knight discovers the wife might be a victim of domestic abuse.</td></tr><tr><td>492</td><td>5</td><td>"Now and Then"</td><td>José Clemente Hernandez</td><td>Marco Schnabel</td><td>November 11, 2025 (2025-11-11)</td><td>2305</td><td>5.63</td></tr><tr><td>When an inmate who had three weeks left until parole escapes prison, the team reopens one of Gibbs and Franks' unresolved cases. Meanwhile, the team puts together a time capsule. This episode concludes a crossover event that begins on NCIS: Origins season 2 episode 5.</td></tr><tr><td>493</td><td>6</td><td>"Page-Turner"</td><td>Marc Roskin</td><td>Sydney Mitchel & Steven D. Binder</td><td>November 18, 2025 (2025-11-18)</td><td>2306</td><td>5.56</td></tr><tr><td>While McGee releases a new book under his alias Thom E. Gemcity, the team investigates a murder which intertwines with McGee getting kidnapped by a woman making a desperate attempt to get justice for her deceased son.</td></tr><tr><td>494</td><td>7</td><td>"God Only Knows"</td><td>Lee Friedlander</td><td>Andrew Bartels</td><td>December 2, 2025 (2025-12-02)</td><td>2307</td><td>6.06</td></tr><tr><td>Parker clashes with a priest when the team investigates the death of a Navy SEAL. Meanwhile, Jimmy admits his findings from the investigation into his mother's burial, all adding to Parker's pent-up grief and anger.</td></tr><tr><td>495</td><td>8</td><td>"Stolen Moments"</td><td>Diana Valentine</td><td>Brian Dietzen & Jesse Stern</td><td>December 9, 2025 (2025-12-09)</td><td>2308</td><td>5.89</td></tr><tr><td>The team assists the Secret Service when a man is shot by the vice president's house. Meanwhile, Vance instructs the team to be shadowed by an AI chatbot, with Jimmy taking it for a spin. The chatbot's input leads to some tension between Jimmy and the rest of the team.</td></tr><tr><td>496</td><td>9</td><td>"Heaven and Nature"</td><td>James Whitmore Jr.</td><td>Scott Williams</td><td>December 16, 2025 (2025-12-16)</td><td>2309</td><td>5.57</td></tr><tr><td>The team assists Parker in his investigation into his mother's passing, and Parker discovers that his mother (who had been helping a mother and daughter get away from her abusive husband) was murdered by the man, a dirty cop who falsified the report that gave Parker the belief she had perished in a drunk driving incident. Meanwhile, Knight is given her first ELITE task by Vance: track down former NCIS agent Eleanor Bishop, who has since become a wanted fugitive. The episode ends with Bishop observing the team from her car in the distance.</td></tr><tr><td>497</td><td>10</td><td>"Her"</td><td>Rocky Carroll</td><td>Christopher J. Waild</td><td>March 3, 2026 (2026-03-03)</td><td>2310</td><td>5.31</td></tr><tr><td>Knight and NCIS: Elite are tasked with arresting Ellie Bishop after Bishop's hacker team is accused of leaking classified material. Bishop asks her old NCIS colleagues to help prove her innocence. During the case, Torres confronts Bishop on her sudden departure. Note: Gary Cole does not appear in this episode.</td></tr><tr><td>498</td><td>11</td><td>"Army of One"</td><td>Tawnia McKiernan</td><td>Amy Rutberg</td><td>March 10, 2026 (2026-03-10)</td><td>2311</td><td>4.89</td></tr><tr><td>When an Army major and former informant of Knight's barricades himself in an ammunition storage, he says Knight is the only one he'll answer to. Knight clashes with Army CID over whether or not he committed a murder. Note: Brian Dietzen does not appear in this episode.</td></tr><tr><td>499</td><td>12</td><td>"In Too Deep"</td><td>Michael Zinberg</td><td>Marco Schnabel</td><td>March 17, 2026 (2026-03-17)</td><td>2312</td><td>4.95</td></tr><tr><td>When a murdered Navy drone pilot brings one of McGee's exes back in his life, he is stunned to discover he has a long-lost son. Meanwhile, while preparing for their weapons recertification exam, Parker confronts Vance for supposedly not having the team's back. Vance reveals he's concerned over the fact the DOD might fold Army CID into NCIS due to budget cuts. Vance later stuns Parker and says NCIS is the agency being shut down.</td></tr><tr><td>500</td><td>13</td><td>"All Good Things"</td><td>José Clemente Hernandez</td><td>Steven D. Binder</td><td>March 24, 2026 (2026-03-24)</td><td>2313</td><td>5.55</td></tr><tr><td>When the son of a Marine that Gibbs once helped comes to NCIS in desperation to aid his sister, the NCIS team, now fractured due to the agency shutdown, reunites off the books. As Vance details the case's timeline to a mysterious individual, he also relays how the agency's history has positively impacted the lives of the public, every member of the team, and himself, despite many personal sacrifices. Vance comes to realize that during the case, he was fatally shot, and the mysterious man is in truth, the late Dr. Mallard (Adam Campbell). Vance also learns that after his death, the team solved the case and NCIS was able to reopen. Accepting his death and that the agency, the team, and his children will all be fine, Vance tearfully reunites with his late wife, Jackie. Note: Final appearance of Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance.</td></tr><tr><td>501</td><td>14</td><td>"Fleeting"</td><td>Marc Roskin</td><td>Andrew Bartels</td><td>March 31, 2026 (2026-03-31)</td><td>2314</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>502</td><td>15</td><td>"Knick-Knack"</td><td>Kevin Berlandi</td><td>Christopher J. Waild</td><td>April 7, 2026 (2026-04-07)</td><td>2315</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>503</td><td>16</td><td>"S.O.S."</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>April 14, 2026 (2026-04-14)</td><td>2316</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>504</td><td>17</td><td>"Reboot"</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>April 21, 2026 (2026-04-21)</td><td>2317</td><td>TBD</td></tr></tbody></table>

Ratings

NCIS season 23

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Title</th><th>Air date</th><th>Rating/share (18–49)</th><th>Viewers (millions)</th><th>DVR (18–49)</th><th>DVR viewers (millions)</th><th>Total (18–49)</th><th>Total viewers (millions)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>"Prodigal Son, Part 1"</td><td>October 14, 2025</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.33</td><td>0.1</td><td>1.91</td><td>0.4</td><td>7.23</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>"Prodigal Son, Part 2"</td><td>October 21, 2025</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.79</td><td>0.1</td><td>1.92</td><td>0.4</td><td>7.71</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>"The Sound and the Fury"</td><td>October 28, 2025</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.37</td><td>0.1</td><td>1.75</td><td>0.4</td><td>7.12</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>"Gone Girls"</td><td>November 4, 2025</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.45</td><td>0.1</td><td>1.70</td><td>0.4</td><td>7.15</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>"Now and Then"</td><td>November 11, 2025</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.63</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>"Page-Turner"</td><td>November 18, 2025</td><td>0.4/5</td><td>5.56</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>"God Only Knows"</td><td>December 2, 2025</td><td>0.3/5</td><td>6.06</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>"Stolen Moments"</td><td>December 9, 2025</td><td>0.3/5</td><td>5.89</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>"Heaven and Nature"</td><td>December 16, 2025</td><td>0.3/5</td><td>5.57</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>"Her"</td><td>March 3, 2026</td><td>0.3/4</td><td>5.31</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>"Army of One"</td><td>March 10, 2026</td><td>0.4/5</td><td>4.89</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>"In Too Deep"</td><td>March 17, 2026</td><td>0.3/3</td><td>4.95</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>"All Good Things"</td><td>March 24, 2026</td><td>0.4/5</td><td>5.55</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td><td>TBD</td></tr></tbody></table>

Production

NCIS season 23

After the season renewal, CBS revealed that the series would be returning to its original timeslot (held from seasons (/wiki/NCISseason1) to (/wiki/NCISseason18)) on Tuesdays at 8pm, followed by NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney at 9 and 10 p.m. respectively.

On September 4, it was announced a special crossover with the Origins spinoff celebrating U.S. Veterans on November 11, with a case that would span across decades. For this event, both series inverted their programming schedule. Also, Mark Harmon, Roma Maffia and Muse Watson reprised their roles as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Vera Strickland and Mike Franks for the crossover.

This is the final season to feature Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance after 18 years, as Carroll departed the series after this season's 13th episode, although he'll continue to work as the series' director.