Why Gabby Dawson’s Farewell Still Stings as Monica Raymund Opens Up About Leaving ‘Chicago Fire’

Few departures in the long-running world of NBC’s ‘One Chicago’ universe hit as hard as Monica Raymund’s exit from ‘Chicago Fire.’ The actress had been part of the show since its 2012 premiere, spending six seasons bringing paramedic Gabby Dawson to life and becoming one of its most beloved characters. Even years removed from her final regular appearance, her absence remains one of the most talked-about cast departures the franchise has ever seen.

For those six seasons, Dawson and Matt Casey, sometimes referred to collectively as “Dawsey,” were a central romantic pairing on the show, eventually tying the knot in season five. Their relationship gave the series much of its emotional backbone, which is precisely why Raymund’s eventual exit sent ripples through the fandom that are still felt today. Several seasons removed from her exit, fans still haven’t gotten over the departure, and many continue to question the reasoning behind it.

Now, in a piece published by TVLine, Raymund has revisited that pivotal decision in her own words. As the actress explained to the Chicago Tribute, the choice ultimately came down to an artistic hunger she could no longer ignore. “I’m not sure the exact moment when it happened, but I knew that my six-year contract was coming to an end and I felt like I was hungry to explore a different role, a different story. I wanted to explore a different world.” Beyond the creative pull, she also cited personal reasons, noting that after five years living in Chicago for the shoot, she was ready to plant roots in Los Angeles.

Showrunner Derek Haas was so caught off guard by the news that he initially assumed Raymund was simply negotiating a better contract, and he reportedly did not believe her departure was real across several conversations before she ultimately said goodbye. Raymund later described the exchange to the Chicago Tribune with some amusement, recalling how she told him she was leaving and he flatly refused to accept it, with the back-and-forth continuing until she finally reassured him she had to go.

On screen, the writers crafted a send-off in which Gabby accepted an offer from Chief Hatcher to lead a rescue team abroad, departing for Puerto Rico in an emotional season six finale. After that exit, Raymund returned briefly in seasons seven and eight, keeping the door to a potential comeback at least partially open. The gamble of walking away from steady work paid off when she landed the lead role on the Starz crime drama ‘Hightown,’ playing hard-partying federal fisheries agent Jackie Quiñones, who becomes entangled in a murder investigation in Provincetown. The role was a sharp departure from the heroic Gabby Dawson, and by the time ‘Hightown’ entered its third and final season, Raymund had proven that stepping out of her safe zone was exactly the right call.

Since her time on ‘Hightown,’ Raymund has also expanded into directing, working behind the camera on episodes of major series including FBI and Dexter: Resurrection. The arc of her career since leaving Firehouse 51 makes a compelling case for the wisdom of knowing when it is time to move on. Raymund herself has maintained that there is always an open door for Gabby, and that the question of a return should remain just that: open.

Whether or not Gabby Dawson ever finds her way back to Chicago, the conversation around Raymund’s departure clearly has not cooled, so share your thoughts below on whether you think it is time for ‘Chicago Fire’ to bring her home for good.