If you’ve been scouring the internet trying to figure out if there will be a season 2 of NCIS: Origins, you can finally take a breath. The short answer? It’s already here. In fact, we’re currently right in the middle of it.
CBS didn't wait long to pull the trigger on this one. They officially greenlit the second season back in February 2025, after the first batch of episodes proved that people still have a massive appetite for anything involving Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Even a younger, grittier version of him.
But honestly, the journey to get here has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the fans. Between surprise weddings, Mark Harmon showing up in the flesh, and some annoying schedule shifts, keeping track of where the show stands is kinda like following a high-stakes NIS investigation.
The Current Status of NCIS: Origins Season 2
Right now, in early 2026, NCIS: Origins Season 2 is the centerpiece of CBS’s Tuesday night lineup. It premiered on October 14, 2025, taking over that prime 9:00 PM slot right after the flagship NCIS.
If you feel like you’ve missed something, it might be because the show just went on a pretty long winter hiatus. We were supposed to see the team back in action in late February, but the 2026 State of the Union address bumped the schedule.
Basically, you’ve got to mark March 3, 2026, on your calendar. That’s the official return date for the rest of Season 2.
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The season kicked off with an episode titled "The Funky Bunch," which really leaned into that early 90s aesthetic. Since then, we've seen Austin Stowell’s Gibbs dealing with the fallout of a massive crossover event that happened in November 2025.
That Wild Mark Harmon Cameo and the Crossover
For the longest time, everyone thought Mark Harmon was just going to be a voice in the background. The "narrator" role felt safe. Then, Episode 5 of this second season, "Funny How Time Slips Away," changed everything.
We actually saw the older Gibbs on screen. He wasn't in a flashback; he was in the "present" day, living his life in Alaska with a new dog. It was a huge moment that bridged the gap between the prequel and the original series in a way most people didn't see coming.
- Viewership Peak: That specific crossover episode pulled in roughly 5.58 million viewers.
- The De-aging Magic: We saw a CGI transition where Harmon aged back into Austin Stowell.
- The Narrative Twist: It confirmed that the entire prequel series is essentially Gibbs reflecting on his life while in exile.
This wasn't just fanservice. According to showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal, having Harmon physically present helps ground the stakes. It reminds us that the "young" Gibbs we see—the one who just impulsively married Diane in the December 2025 fall finale—eventually becomes the stoic leader we watched for two decades.
Is Season 2 the End? The Cancellation Rumors Explained
Here is where things get a little complicated. While Season 2 is currently airing, the "will there be a season 2" question has morphed into "will there be a season 3?"
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If you look at the raw numbers, there’s some reason to be nervous. While the crossover event was a massive hit, the weekly ratings have been a bit of a seesaw. By mid-December 2025, some reports showed the audience dipping down toward the 2 million mark for live broadcasts.
There's a lot of chatter about "franchise fatigue." Paramount+ recently axed NCIS: Tony & Ziva after just one season, which sent a shockwave through the fanbase. If a show with fan-favorites like Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo can get cut, is anyone safe?
However, NCIS: Origins has a secret weapon: streaming growth. CBS has been very vocal about the fact that while live "linear" TV numbers are down, the show is up over 70% in streaming views compared to what NCIS: Hawai'i was doing in the same slot.
"We look at the total map now," CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach mentioned in a recent press briefing. "Origins is reaching a younger demographic on Paramount+ that the flagship show doesn't always hit."
What to Expect When the Show Returns in March 2026
When the show picks back up on March 3, we have to deal with the bombshell from the fall finale. Gibbs and Diane (played by Kathleen Kenny) got married in Las Vegas.
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If you’re a long-time NCIS viewer, you know this marriage is doomed. It’s part of the lore. But seeing how it falls apart in real-time is the "meat" of Season 2. We're also expecting more legacy characters to pop up. We’ve already seen a young Ducky (Adam Campbell) and a young Tobias Fornell (Lucas Dixon).
The back half of Season 2 is rumored to focus heavily on the "Sandman" case—a lingering thread from the series premiere that Gibbs just can't let go of.
Key Details for Fans to Remember
| Feature | Status / Detail |
|---|---|
| Current Season | Season 2 (2025-2026) |
| Next Air Date | March 3, 2026 |
| Lead Actor | Austin Stowell (Young Gibbs) |
| Narrator | Mark Harmon |
| Network | CBS / Paramount+ |
Honestly, if you're worried about the future of the show, the best thing you can do is watch it on the official platforms. Networks are looking at those "First 24 Hours" streaming numbers more than anything else these days.
Actionable Steps for NCIS Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and ensure you don't miss the return of Season 2, here’s what you should do:
- Check your DVR settings: Since the return date was pushed back a week to March 3 due to the State of the Union, some older DVR schedules might be wonky. Double-check that it's set to "New Episodes Only" so it catches the change.
- Binge the Fall Finale: Re-watch Episode 9 of Season 2 ("Funny How Time Slips Away") and Episode 10. The details about Mike Franks' brother, Mason, are going to be vital for the spring premiere.
- Monitor the May Upfronts: CBS usually announces the 2026-2027 schedule in May. That is when we will get the official word on a Season 3 renewal. Given the streaming performance, it's currently "leaning renewal," but it's not a done deal yet.
- Follow the "Harmon" Factor: Keep an eye out for news regarding Mark Harmon’s involvement. As long as he stays on as Executive Producer and Narrator, the show has a massive safety net with the network.
The prequel is doing exactly what it set out to do: it's making us look at a character we thought we knew for 20 years in a completely different light. Whether it's the 90s nostalgia or the heartbreaking backstory of Gibbs' family, there’s still plenty of story left to tell before we reach the "modern" era.