The wait is almost over for NCIS fans. With CBS premiere week just days away, the long-running procedural is gearing up for its 24th season, and this year promises a major reunion that has been over a decade in the making. Michael Weatherly, who played the beloved Tony DiNozzo for 13 seasons, is officially returning to the fold, and a new exclusive clip gives us our first look at his emotional homecoming.
Tony's return to Washington, D.C. is a big deal for several reasons. It's been more than ten years since he left the Major Crimes Response Team in the Season 13 finale, and the team has evolved significantly in his absence. But some familiar faces remain, including his old partner-in-crime, Timothy McGee, played by Sean Murray. Their reunion is the heart of the Season 24 premiere, and the newly released sneak peek shows the two slipping right back into their easygoing, brotherly dynamic—this time with a more serious, fatherly tone.
In the clip, McGee is clearly struggling after the events of the Season 23 finale, which saw his son, Matteo, get caught up in a dangerous situation involving a hack into the federal database and a tense confrontation with Nick Torres that ended with an unseen gunshot. McGee is a worried dad, and Tony, who knows a thing or two about raising a headstrong kid, is there to offer some much-needed perspective. He reassures his old friend that McGee has always been a great agent and an even better father, and that everything will work out in the end. Of course, Tony can't resist a little humor, warning McGee to stay on the good side of his daughter, Tali, who has a knack for using toxic gas to blind mercenaries.
This tender moment is a reminder of the deep bond these two characters share, a friendship that has been a cornerstone of the series since its early days. It's also a chance to see how Tony has grown since we last saw him. His spin-off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, ended with him and Ziva choosing to put their family first, and now that he's back to open a new branch of his private security firm, the show is exploring how that decision has shaped him.
Tony's return couldn't come at a better time for McGee, who is facing every parent's worst nightmare. The Season 24 premiere will delve into the aftermath of Matteo's actions, as the team tries to understand why he would try to compromise the MCRT from within. But Tony isn't just there for moral support—he's also drawn into a new case involving a threat to the Secretary of the Navy, which will bring him back into the fold alongside his former colleagues.
This isn't the only big news for the NCIS franchise this fall. A new spinoff, NCIS: New York, is set to launch, with LL COOL J's Sam Hanna returning alongside a new team that includes Scott Caan as a "roguish" partner. And Mark Harmon, the original lead, is locked in for a season-long arc on NCIS: Origins, the prequel series. But for many fans, the highlight of the season will be seeing Tony and McGee back together, even if it's just for a few episodes.
As the premiere approaches, the excitement is palpable. The chemistry between Weatherly and Murray has always been one of the show's greatest strengths, and this sneak peek proves that their dynamic is as strong as ever. Whether they're cracking jokes or having a heart-to-heart, these two are the heart of NCIS.
Don't miss the Season 24 premiere, airing October 6 on CBS. Check out the exclusive clip above to see Tony and McGee's reunion for yourself.
