20 Squad could be getting a new team member in SWAT season 8

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the SWAT Season 7 finale

SWAT just wrapped up its seventh season with an unexpected renewal. So who could be joining the team in Season 8? Here’s what we know!

SWAT wrapped up Season 7 with what could have been a series finale, as the team had to stop a band of eco-terrorists from blowing up a pipeline that could have taken out most of Los Angeles. It was a tense “all hands on deck” situation, not helped by 20 Squad being down some guys. Hondo did a great job holding onto an oil tanker to take out the terrorist leader and was hailed as a hero, mitigating the bad press of him shooting a suspect.

Deacon had helped out with the team and it made him realize how much he missed it with his wife backing up his decision to call off retirement. Meanwhile, Tan overcame his issues with Alfaro to agree to let him join the squad which was when Hondo was asked by Hicks who he might see for the sixth spot.

That could have been the end of the show, leaving the future of 20 Squad forever up in the air. Instead, CBS surprisingly renewed SWAT for an eighth season, which means figuring out the final slot is going to be a major issue. 

Speaking to TV Insider, executive producer Andrew Dettmann talked about the idea for Hondo having someone special in mind. 

"I think Hondo has somebody in mind. I think because he got the carte blanche and because he’s kind of thinking of somebody, I don’t know exactly who yet, but I think it allows us to bring in somebody that might not be an obvious choice, that might be, even from Hicks perspective, a little bit controversial, but Hicks isn’t going to go back on his word. So whoever Hondo brings in, we all know Hondo wouldn’t do that for the wrong reasons. So we’re going to trust Hondo. Whoever he brings in as a sixth member of 20 squad’s going to be somebody that Hondo is invested in and wants to see succeed…It isn’t decided. It could be somebody we know. Then again, it might not be."

Obviously, there are a lot of options so could the final member be someone new or returning?

Who could join SWAT in Season 8?

The potential for that sixth spot on SWAT is wide. Obviously, fans would love it if Street and/or Luca could return. However, Luca’s injuries and retirement appear to have closed the door to his return to the field and Street seemed happy running the San Diego SWAT team. Of course, fans are hopeful he might pop up to reveal if Chris accepted his marriage proposal. A big wedding would be a fun event for Season 8.  

There’s also the potential of a recurring character perhaps jumping to 20 Squad. The episode had another SWAT team injured in a bombing which included Cabrera (Brigitte Kali Canales). Maybe with the rest of her squad’s fate up in the air, Cabrera could join 20 Squad and boost it up.

Also, the episode had the team joined by Hondo’s old friend, would-be SWAT officer turned FBI agent Jackie Vasquez (Jessica Camacho) for the final raid. She did a good job there so it will be interesting if she decides to give up the FBI and finally get a shot at SWAT.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be a returning character as the show has the potential to bring in a rookie who, like Street, can be a fresh eye to SWAT and spark up the show more. Dettmann admitted the unexpected renewal had shifted up some plans but the sixth member will be a priority. 

"The writers’ room—we’ll start up next week already for Season 8—that’s on our boards. We have some thoughts, we have things we’re excited about, and when we land on one, then we’ll go deeper in that direction."

So, 20 Squad will get that sixth spot filled but whether it’s a returning face or a newcomer is still a big question. At least fans are happy SWAT will return for an eighth season and 20 Squad is still doing their best to save the day.

SWAT Seasons 1-7 streaming on Paramount+.