How Is ‘NCIS’ Bringing Tony DiNozzo Back? 5 Theories

NCIS is bringing back Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo for what’s said to be a “season-long arc.” But what exactly could be bringing him back?

There’s been nothing in his history that, so far, seems to connect to any ongoing storyline. Since Weatherly’s exit as a series regular from the long-running CBS drama at the end of Season 13, he has since appeared in a one-season spinoff with Cote de Pablo, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, on Paramount+. Season 24 did leave off with a major cliffhanger, so there is the possibility that his return is connected to that.

Below, we take a look at how NCIS could be bringing Tony back for this major arc.

Tony’s return is linked to the Mateo mystery

At the end of Season 23, Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) confronted McGee’s (Sean Murray) teen son Mateo (Patrick Keleher) about his suspicious behavior. It ended with a gunshot ringing out, but it was unclear who had fired; it could have been Torres, Mateo, or someone else, perhaps the “they” the teen was worried was watching. What if Tony is onto whoever Mateo’s worried about and followed someone to that alley? Imagine if Tony makes his return by stepping in to help in that situation, whether it’s in the immediate aftermath or at some point in the premiere.

Ziva’s missing

We can’t help but wonder why Cote de Pablo seemingly isn’t returning — unless a separate announcement is coming — alongside Michael Weatherly. After all, their spinoff left their relationship in a very good place, and they were raising their daughter Tali (Isla Gie) together last we saw them. Could it be something has happened to Ziva, whether something from one of their pasts or a current threat, and Tony’s turning to his old team, people he knows he can trust, to help find her?

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One of Tony’s old cases is reopened

He worked a lot of cases as an NCIS agent, and it’s very possible that one, especially one with a personal connection or one that greatly affected him, is reopened and he feels he has to come back to help. Maybe that lasts for the full arc, or maybe that’s just the catalyst for his initial return and something else keeps him in D.C.

Tony’s security company business is connected to a major NCIS case

What if the team reaches out to Tony first? They could be working a case with a link of some sort to Tony’s security company, McGee gives his friend and former coworker a call, and Tony feels he has to return to D.C. to work the case with them, perhaps because after the issues when he was framed, he wants to be boots on the ground to show the company can and will continue to thrive.

Tony’s interim Director

This seems the least likely — why would someone who hasn’t been an agent in over a decade become the agency’s director? — but it does have to be suggested. (There’s also nothing to suggest that Tony would want the job.)