If you spent any time on the corner of the internet dedicated to NBC’s Chicago P.D. between 2014 and 2017, you know the name "Linstead." It wasn't just a TV ship. For a solid minute, Jesse Lee Soffer and Sophia Bush were the "it" couple of One Chicago. They had the kind of chemistry that made you wonder if the script was even necessary.
The thing is, Hollywood relationships usually end in a blaze of messy Instagram deletions or vague PR statements about "irreconcilable differences." This one was different. It was quiet. Maybe a little too quiet for the tabloid hungry.
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The Set of Chicago P.D.: Where It All Started
It started in 2014. Sophia Bush, already a household name from her One Tree Hill days, joined the cast as Detective Erin Lindsay. Jesse Lee Soffer played her partner, Jay Halstead.
They were coworkers first. But the spark was undeniable.
By August 2014, the rumors started flying. Sources told E! News that they had been "secretly dating" for about three months. They tried to keep it low-key. You’ve got to remember, Bush had already been through the ringer with high-profile relationships, specifically her short-lived marriage to Chad Michael Murray. She wasn't exactly looking to turn her love life into a press tour.
Why Jesse Lee Soffer and Sophia Bush Just Worked (Until They Didn't)
People loved them because they felt grounded. They weren't posting constant PDA or staged red carpet photos. They were just... together.
- They met in 2014.
- They dated for about a year.
- The breakup happened around June 2015.
- They stayed costars for two more years.
That last part is the kicker. Imagine breaking up with someone and then having to show up to work and pretend to be in love with them for 14 hours a day under hot studio lights. That is a special kind of professional torture. Yet, by all accounts, they handled it like actual adults.
The Breakup: No Drama, Just Distance
When the news broke in June 2015 that they’d called it quits, the fans went into a tailspin. But the "why" was remarkably boring. Sources close to the pair said they simply "grew apart." No cheating scandals. No massive fights on set.
Basically, the spark fizzled out in real life even as it was being fanned into a flame on screen.
There was a brief moment in September 2015 where they were spotted holding hands in New York City. This sent the "Linstead" shippers into a frenzy. Was it a reconciliation? A "friends with benefits" situation? Neither. It seemed to be just a moment of two people who still cared about each other navigating the weird space between "exes" and "colleagues."
Life After Linstead: Where Are They Now in 2026?
A lot has changed since those days in the Windy City. Sophia Bush has been incredibly vocal about her experiences on the Chicago P.D. set, though she’s clarified her departure in 2017 was due to "abusive behavior" and poor conditions, not her history with Jesse.
Honestly, Sophia’s journey since then has been a whirlwind. She married Grant Hughes in 2022, but that ended in divorce about a year later. Fast forward to today, and she’s living her truth. She officially came out as queer in 2024 and has been in a high-profile relationship with former soccer star Ashlyn Harris.
Jesse Lee Soffer, on the other hand, stayed with Chicago P.D. much longer, eventually leaving the show in 2022. He briefly dated another One Tree Hill alum, Torrey DeVitto, around 2018, proving that the Dick Wolf/One Tree Hill casting pool is very, very small.
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The Professional Legacy of the Relationship
What’s fascinating about Jesse Lee Soffer and Sophia Bush is how they protected the show. Usually, when leads date and break up, the show suffers. Writers have to write around the awkwardness. Plots get derailed.
That didn't happen here.
They kept "Linstead" alive for the fans until Sophia’s exit. They proved you can have a failed romance and still maintain a successful professional partnership. In a town like Hollywood, that’s rarer than an Oscar.
The Real Takeaway
If you're looking for the "secret reason" they broke up, you won't find one. Sometimes two great people just aren't the right "forever" people for each other.
- Workplace Romance is Risky: Even for celebrities, dating the person in the next cubicle (or squad car) complicates everything.
- Privacy is a Choice: They showed that you don't have to feed the tabloids if you don't want to.
- Moving On is Healthy: Both have found happiness in very different ways since 2015.
If you’re still mourning the end of their relationship, the best thing you can do is go back and watch Season 2. The chemistry was real, even if the "forever" wasn't. To see where they are today, you can follow Sophia’s activism work or catch Jesse’s latest projects, as both continue to be powerhouses in the industry independently of their past together.
Actionable Insight: If you’re a fan of the "One Chicago" universe, check out the latest casting updates for Season 13 of Chicago P.D. to see how the legacy of characters like Lindsay and Halstead continues to influence the new generation of detectives.