As summer heats up, so does anticipation for Chicago Fire Season 14. While NBC has yet to drop an official premiere date, all signs point to an announcement coming very soon—possibly before the end of July. That means fans might not have to wait much longer to find out when Firehouse 51 will roar back onto their screens.

Looking at NBC’s past scheduling patterns, a late September or early October premiere is the most likely bet. It’s the traditional slot for One Chicago shows, and it gives the network plenty of time to build hype throughout the summer. In fact, sources suggest that NBC usually finalizes its fall schedule during June or early July, so the clock is ticking.

But what will Season 14 actually look like?

The biggest confirmed change involves the cast. Jake Lockett’s character, Sam Carver, has already made his exit, and now fans are bracing for another tough goodbye: Daniel Kyri, who plays Darren Ritter, is reportedly set to leave the show as well. While his departure hasn’t been officially detailed, rumors suggest that his exit will be written into the early episodes of the season. For longtime viewers, Ritter’s presence has been a fan-favorite, so this loss stings—but unfortunately, budget cuts across the network may be to blame.

It’s not all farewells, though. With Carver gone and Ritter potentially on his way out, the door opens for new blood and possibly the return of some familiar faces. There’s always the chance that characters from earlier seasons could reappear to shake things up or provide emotional closure.

Behind the scenes, there’s a cautious optimism. Despite the character shakeups, the core of Chicago Fire remains intact. Taylor Kinney’s Severide is back after an extended absence last season, and the leadership dynamic between him, Stella Kidd, and Chief Boden continues to be a strong narrative anchor.

As for the storylines ahead, nothing major has been revealed yet—but that’s to be expected this early in the game. What’s clear is that the show will need to navigate its evolving cast while maintaining the high-stakes rescues, emotional gut-punches, and family-like bonds that have made Chicago Fire a staple of NBC’s prime-time lineup.

In short, while we’re still waiting for an official date, fans can rest assured: Chicago Fire Season 14 is on its way. Expect more emotional intensity, more station drama, and yes, more fire. NBC isn’t done with Firehouse 51 just yet—and neither are we.

Keep an eye out for that premiere date drop, and get ready to suit up once again.