Colin Donnell to Return as Dr. Connor Rhodes in Chicago Med Season 12
After a seven-year absence, Colin Donnell is scrubbing back in at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. The actor will reprise his role as Dr. Connor Rhodes in a two-episode arc during the twelfth season of NBC's Chicago Med, with his first appearance slated for the fall finale on December 9, 2026.
The news, first reported by People and subsequently confirmed by multiple outlets including TV Insider and Give Me My Remote, marks Donnell's first return to the medical drama since he exited in the Season 5 premiere in 2019. According to sources, his character will be brought back by Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) to assist with a young heart patient requiring a complicated, high-risk surgery.
The Details of His Return
Donnell's comeback will unfold over two episodes, beginning with the December 9 fall finale. The storyline sees Goodwin—who is currently fighting for her job after being accused of leaking a doctor's medical files—turning to Rhodes for his surgical expertise. The plot point suggests Goodwin will have cleared her name or at least regained enough authority to recruit outside help by that point in the season.
Showrunner Allen MacDonald has been vocal about his desire to bring back original cast members since he took over the series in 2024. In a statement to People, MacDonald said, "Dr. Connor Rhodes was the very first character fans met in the opening scene of Chicago Med's premiere episode in 2015, and he's one of my absolute favorites in the history of the series, so bringing him back home to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center has been an absolute priority for me since I joined the show. I'm so thrilled that Colin Donnell has agreed to return in his iconic role, bringing with him all of Connor's warmth, intelligence, and complexity. Both Colin and Connor have been missed."
The Road Back to Gaffney
Donnell's departure from Chicago Med in 2019 was anything but quiet. His character left the hospital after a devastating personal tragedy: his father was murdered by his ex-girlfriend, Dr. Ava Bekker (Norma Kuhling), who then took her own life. The dark storyline concluded Connor's arc in the Season 5 premiere, titled "Never Going Back to Normal," and he has not been seen on the series since.
Since leaving Chicago Med, Donnell has kept busy with roles on FBI: International, The Affair, and Arrow, among other projects. His return is part of a larger pattern under MacDonald's leadership, which has seen several original cast members make guest appearances. Nick Gehlfuss returned as Dr. Will Halstead last season, while Torrey DeVitto (Dr. Natalie Manning) and Rachel DiPillo (Dr. Sarah Reese) have also reprised their roles in recent years.
The only remaining original series regulars are S. Epatha Merkerson (Sharon Goodwin) and Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles), making Donnell's return a significant nod to the show's early days.
Showrunner's Strategy: One Return at a Time
MacDonald has been methodical about integrating returning characters. In a 2025 interview with TV Insider, he explained, "It is my plan to bring back all the original cast members at some time or another, so I think that's a watch-and-see sort of thing. But what's important to me is as I bring them back, that I bring them back one at a time for the most part."
He cited the example of Rachel DiPillo's return in Season 10, which allowed for a more mature, experienced version of Sarah Reese to clash with Dr. Charles. "I worry about packing a whole bunch of OG characters into one episode because then you don't get to give them their due," he added.
That philosophy extends to Donnell, whose return is not just a cameo but a two-episode arc with a specific medical case at its center. It's a strategy that aims to satisfy longtime fans while preserving narrative integrity.
A Season of Change and High Stakes
Season 12 of Chicago Med premiered on October 8, 2026, with an episode titled "Shots Fired," which tackled a mass shooting at a wedding. The premiere introduced new challenges for the staff and set the stage for a season of upheaval. According to early reviews, the episode balanced intense medical drama with character development, though it also highlighted the show's high turnover rate.
Indeed, the One Chicago franchise has seen significant cast changes in recent years. This season alone, four stars have exited the One Chicago universe, along with one showrunner. Against that backdrop, Donnell's return is a stabilizing force, a reminder of the show's roots and a potential boost for ratings.
What Connor's Return Means for the Show
Dr. Connor Rhodes was a fan favorite—a skilled trauma surgeon with a complicated family history and a penchant for bending the rules. His departure left a void in the hospital's surgical team, and his return offers opportunities for new dynamics, particularly with Goodwin and Charles, the only characters who were around during his original tenure.
The storyline involving a young heart patient suggests Connor will be back in his element, performing high-stakes surgery. It also raises questions about his life since leaving Chicago. Where has he been? What has he been doing? The show may or may not answer those questions, but his presence alone is enough to generate buzz.
The Bigger Picture: Nostalgia and Ratings
Donnell's return is part of a broader trend in television: reviving original characters to reignite viewer interest. In an era of peak TV and fragmented audiences, nostalgic callbacks can be powerful tools. Chicago Med is no exception. The show has already seen success with returns from Gehlfuss, DeVitto, and DiPillo, and MacDonald has made it clear he wants to bring back as many OGs as possible.
"There's a push to have all the original cast come back," MacDonald told TV Insider, noting the fan enthusiasm for Donnell's return. That push is both a creative and commercial consideration. Original cast members bring built-in audiences, and their storylines can tap into long-running emotional arcs.
The One Chicago Ecosystem
Chicago Med is part of the One Chicago franchise, which includes Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., all airing on Wednesday nights on NBC. The franchise has had its share of cast shakeups, but it remains a cornerstone of NBC's primetime lineup. Crossovers and character overlaps are part of its appeal, and Donnell's return could potentially open doors for appearances on other One Chicago shows—though no such plans have been announced.
For now, fans can look forward to seeing Connor Rhodes back in the ER, if only for two episodes. Whether this is a one-time visit or a prelude to a more permanent return remains to be seen. But for a show that has undergone significant changes, his return is a welcome dose of continuity.
What's Next for Chicago Med
Season 12 continues to air Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC. The fall finale on December 9 will feature Donnell's first episode back, with his second appearance likely in the midseason premiere or another episode early in 2027. The show has not yet been renewed for Season 13, but if the pattern holds, it will likely continue as long as ratings remain solid.
In the meantime, fans can speculate about how Connor's return will impact the current staff. Will he clash with new characters? Rekindle old friendships? The possibilities are part of the excitement. As MacDonald said, bringing back original characters is about giving them their due—and Connor Rhodes certainly deserves his.
For those who have followed Chicago Med since its 2015 premiere, Donnell's return is a full-circle moment. It's a chance to see a beloved character again and to remember why they fell in love with the show in the first place. In a television landscape where shows often fade away quietly, Chicago Med is writing a new chapter for one of its foundational figures. And that's a story worth watching.
Comments