What happened to Boden in Chicago Fire? (Why did Eamonn Walker leave?)

Chicago Fire first premiered in 2012, and fans were introduced to Chief Wallace Boden of Firehouse 51 in the very first episode of the series as the Battalion Chief of Battalion 25. Chief Boden is played by actor Eamonn Walker, who is credited in over 250 episodes of the hit drama series on NBC, but as you likely noticed in new episodes of the show, he is not a series regular in season 13.

Officially, Chief Boden is no longer on the show because of what happened in the series finale of Chicago Fire season 12, where we saw Boden take a promotion that meant he would be leaving his role as the firehouse chief at 51. It was a meaningful exit, and now in the One Chicago universe, Wallace Boden is known to be the Chicago Fire Department's Deputy Commissioner.

But for actor Eamonn Walker, the decision made sense for both the character and for himself. Earlier in the year, Deadline confirmed that Walker was the one who decided to step away. 12 years as a series regular is a huge time commitment, and Walker expressed that he wanted to have more time away from work for personal and family matters.

Who is the new chief on Chicago Fire?

With Boden's promotion, Firehouse 51 needed a new chief, and they found one in Dom Pascal. Played by Dermot Mulroney, Chief Pascal has really changed the dynamic and the energy among the characters on the series. And in the first few episodes of Chicago Fire season 13, you can see the firehouse being caught off guard by some of Chief Pascal's new rules. Learn more about Dermot Mulroney joining the show in a behind-the-scenes look released by NBC ahead of the premiere earlier this fall.

Will Wallace Boden ever return to Chicago Fire?

Yes, we do know that we'll see Eamonn Walker return to the OneChicago universe in his new role as the Deputy Commissioner, but when this happens, it will be in a recurring role or as a guest star. In a recent interview with TV Insider, showrunner Andrea Newman confirmed that Walker will appear in Season 13, but not immediately.

“We have a mantra,” Newman said to TV Insider, “We say once a part of 51, always a part of 51. That’s particularly true for Boden because he’s still in the CFD. So yes, we do plan on seeing him, although not right off the bat.”

Chicago Fire season 13 is currently airing new episodes Wednesdays at 9pm on NBC. All episodes are available to stream the following day on Peacock.