For years, NCIS fans have speculated about the real reason behind Mark Harmon’s departure, and now, a crew member has finally spoken out. According to an inside source, Harmon’s exit wasn’t as simple as many believed. While his official statement cited the need for a new chapter, behind the scenes, tensions had reportedly been brewing for some time. The source claims that disagreements over the show’s direction and grueling filming schedules played a major role in his decision to step away.

Many fans have long suspected that something more was going on, especially since Harmon remained quiet about the details of his exit. The crew member revealed that while Harmon loved his role as Gibbs, he was growing exhausted after nearly two decades of intense production. Additionally, there were whispers of creative clashes between Harmon and the show’s executives regarding the future of NCIS. It seems that as the series evolved, Harmon felt it was time to move on rather than force a continuation of Gibbs’ story.

Despite his departure, the former NCIS star has remained involved with the show as an executive producer. The insider also mentioned that Harmon’s exit was handled professionally, and there’s no bad blood between him and the cast. However, whether he will ever return remains uncertain. Fans continue to hold out hope for a surprise Gibbs comeback, but for now, it looks like Harmon is officially done with NCIS—at least in front of the camera.