The last we saw of Gibbs, he was on the run, trying to uncover the truth behind a murder. Parker had chased him and McGee to Alaska, where Parker eventually allowed Gibbs to stay. For the first time since the murders of his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly, Gibbs found a sense of peace in Alaska and decided to remain there.

Fans have long hoped to see him return to HQ, but that hasn’t happened. While Harmon is still involved as an executive producer on the series, he has shown no signs of returning to his role.

Gibbs Didn’t Return for Ducky’s Funeral in NCIS

One significant event that could have brought Gibbs back was the death of his close friend, Ducky. David McCallum passed away before the filming of NCIS Season 21 began, and the series incorporated his death into the storyline. The show delivered a beautiful memorial episode, concluding with Ducky’s funeral. DiNozzo made a return for this episode.

As for Gibbs, he sent his condolences to the team but didn’t attend the funeral. If there were ever an event to bring him back, this would have been it.

Mark Harmon Will Return to the NCIS Universe

There is some good news for fans hoping to at least hear Mark Harmon’s voice in the series. He will be part of the prequel series NCIS: Origins. When this series was announced, it was revealed that Harmon would narrate the show, bringing a Young Sheldon vibe to the NCIS universe.

While he likely won’t appear on screen, this prequel series will focus on Gibbs joining NCIS for the first time. We’ll see him interact with a young Mike Franks as he copes with the grief of losing his wife and daughter. Set in the 1990s, the series won’t feature an older Gibbs on screen.

So, as much as we would love to see Gibbs back in NCIS Season 22, it’s unlikely to happen.