As soon as NCIS: New York was announced, eyes were on connections to the past. With LL Cool J back in the lead, many looked at the way it could lead to NCIS: Los Angeles characters coming back, with one particular return needed. Audiences want to see Chris O’Donnell’s G. Callen teaming back up with Sam, even if it is just for an episode.
The last time Sam and Callen were together was in the closing moments of the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale, as they learned that Nell has formed a team to go into Syria to save Hetty. It was the only main storyline of this NCIS spinoff left completely open when the series wrapped, with everyone understanding that Sam and Callen would remain in Los Angeles while Nell’s team went out to search for her.
However, things changed when Sam came into NCIS: Hawaii during its final season, with a whole new team. From that moment, there were plenty of questions about what this meant for Callen. Everyone needed to know if he was still running the Los Angeles team. Yet, he wasn’t mentioned, and even now that Sam is in New York, there hasn’t been a clear mention of his friendship with Callen. Sure, O’Donnell is currently busy with 9-1-1: Nashville, but that doesn’t mean a mention can’t happen.
Yet, the NCIS: New York series premiere has helped to set the stage to bring Callen back into the story. Now, all everyone needs is for schedules to line up and a storyline to make Callen’s physical return worthwhile. Yes, the only acceptable return is one where Callen is in New York helping Sam.
Jimmy Palmer’s NCIS: New York Cameo Sets A Precedent For Callen’s Return
When Palmer appeared in the NCIS: New York series premiere, it set the stage for future cameo moments. Sam still works closely with the people from his past, and he will turn to them if and when he needs extra support. Thanks to his kindness and compassion, he has built up a network of friends and colleagues who will step in and find answers for him.
There is one person from his past who will be more than happy to step in when needed, and that’s Callen. The two were best friends throughout NCIS: Los Angeles, constantly running ideas past each other and confiding in one another. With Palmer’s return, who has been more of a protégé to Sam, it opens the door for Callen’s return and adds that equal-partnership layer.
Even when they didn’t necessarily agree with each other’s approach, it led to them becoming better investigators. During NCIS: Los Angeles season 5, Sam’s gut instinct approach didn’t gel with Callen’s need for evidence, and it led to Callen challenging Sam to look at the raw facts. When Callen went rogue during the season 7 premiere, Sam was hurt by the lack of trust, and it made Callen rethink his own approach.
Why Callen Would Still Need To Physically Appear In NCIS: New York
However, NCIS: New York cannot get away with a cameo via a video call. This has been the way the NCIS universe has done a few cameos over the years. Ernie from NCIS: Hawaii and Kensi from NCIS: Los Angeles have appeared on video calls to help the MCRT in the mothership. Only Sam has regularly appeared in person, and while it works considering time differences and location, it feels like a cop out for such an iconic cameo.
The last time we saw Callen and Sam together was during the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale. They both went off in their separate directions, and there’s not even been a mention of Callen since. It’s shortsighted considering the friendship that they had and the amount of times Sam has appeared in the universe.
Callen needs to come in and physically help Sam with a case, whether that means being beside him in a gunfight or in the passenger seat during a car chase. It would allow the two of them to catch up on everything that has happened, including how Callen is doing as a married man and how Hetty is doing now that she is back. Sam made it clear that Hetty had been saved, and out of the two of them, Callen would have far more details to share, even potentially being part of whatever secret mission she has set up.
Callen’s Delayed NCIS Return Is Great For Sam’s New York Spinoff
With O’Donnell as the lead on 9-1-1: Nashville, the schedules aren’t all that easy to manage. He films in Nashville, while LL Cool J is in New York for the NCIS series, so it will take time for a Callen appearance, and that’s a great thing for the spinoff.
It allows Sam and Nick more time to bond as partners in NCIS: New York, which the show has begun with the promise of showing us. At the moment, the two characters are still getting to know each other. They’re figuring out each other’s leadership and teamwork styles, while also getting to know about each other’s pasts. Sam has shared a little about his time before moving to Los Angeles and what it’s like feeling like he’s a stranger in the area, while Nick has the opportunity to discuss the changes he’s witnessed before his very eyes.
There’s also more time to cement Sam into the new team, with audiences getting to see how Wyatt and Addy take to working with him. Writers also have more time to delve into backstories of the supporting characters, rather than starting NCIS: New York out in the wrong way. Overloading with cameos connected to Sam would affect the connection to regular characters, leading to nobody caring when they’re injured or at risk of death.
The New York-based spinoff needs time to stand on its own two feet. Delaying more cameos, especially one as important as Callen, will help to give the team more time to solve cases and showcase individual talents. After all, an episode with Callen will mean that he and Sam take control of the case, even with Callen potentially bringing a personal case to Sam, and now is not the time to make NCIS: New York feel like an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles.
- Release Date
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October 6, 2026
- Directors
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Eagle Egilsson, Adam Davidson
- Writers
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R. Scott Gemmill
Cast
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Scott Caan
Nick Schaeffer