Matthew Casey's Most Memorable Moments on Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire has given us a decade (and counting) of dramatic, nail-biting rescue missions navigated by heroic characters with big hearts. And there's no debate that Matthew Casey, played by Jesse Spencer, is high on the list of people we'd trust with our lives. 

During Chicago Fire's 200th episode in Season 10, Casey left the team to move to Portland, Oregon so he could take care of the two sons of Firehouse 51's own Andy Darden. His tight relationships with Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), Sylvie Brett (Kara Kilmer), Brian "Otis" Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov), and Gabby Dawson (Monica Raymund) added a lot of love and connection to the show, so the goodbye was emotional for a lot of reasons. Luckily, he returned to Chicago just 17 episodes later for the Season 10 finale.

And now, fans await Casey's second return to the squad, coming later this spring on Season 11, Episode 18. 

In anticipation of the reunion, we're revisiting what makes everyone love Casey. No matter what is on his plate—a dangerous fire or stand-in parenthood—Casey will always fight for what he believes in.

Here are some of Matthew Casey's defining moments.  

Casey and Severide's "Final" Chicago Fire Rescue

As Casey braced to leave the squad in Season 10, he had one last fiery fight during which he and Severide saved a civilian by using a church pew as a bridge. The two crossed over their makeshift path, grabbed the victim, and exited the area just before it went up in flames. The mission was a perfect goodbye to the duo's long-lasting partnership—and when Severide pointed out that it might be their last fire together, Casey assured him that he'd never truly be gone.

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Standing Up For Otis

Season 3 brought us a defining moment for multiple characters when Chief Pridgen (Matthew Del Negro), who was filling in for Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker), mocked Zvonecek for tripping in a waxed bowling lane during a rescue. Casey immediately refused to chime in on the bullying and later approached Pridgen, saying "Don't talk to my guy like that... Otis and everyone else here at 51, they've already proven themselves, and you ought to treat them with respect." 

The "Dawsey" Breakup

Casey was always a good leader and teammate to his crew but, outside of the job, he also showed a lot of heart. His relationship with Dawson was not always easy, but when she decided to leave Firehouse 51 to move to Puerto Rico in Season 6, Casey was nothing but understanding. He wanted to support Dawson in doing what was best for her: "I'm just lucky I got to walk alongside you as long as I did," he told her. 

Casey Defended a Risky Decision

In Season 6, Casey used an unconventional method to save a man from jumping off of a building. The save was a classic Casey move—he was known for his out-of-the-box thinking—and was backed up by more familiar behavior when he took full accountability for his actions.

After using a rope to save the man, Casey told an angry Captain Mullins (John Gatins), "If it's the liability you're worried about, put it on me." 

Casey's Promotion

The building rescue led to a bigger moment for Casey, when Captain Mullins came around and actually requested that Casey receive a meritorious promotion. During his swearing-in ceremony, his team celebrated his bravery and leadership. 

"There are firefighters who play the game, work the system, bide their time and climb up the chain of command. And then, there's Matthew Casey," Boden said. "A true, honest-to-God smoke eater."

Casey again used his shining moment to uplift others, saying to Dawson, "I appreciate this honor, I do, but if anyone deserves to be honored today, it's you Gabby." 

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Dawson's Near-Death Garage Collapse

In the very next episode, one of Casey's first heroic acts as a captain was to save Dawson's life. Dawson was walking through the city when she saw construction workers causing serious damage to a parking structure. She ran in to tell civilians to exit the garage, but it collapsed on top of her.

After piecing together information, Casey got a hold of Dawson and told her how to exit the rubble. As the other survivors exited, Casey learned that Dawson was still deep inside trying to save the final victim, so he ran in to help pull both of them out.

Casey Stood Up To Captain Delaney

In Season 8, Firehouse 51 was faced with a bedbug problem and forced to move in with the Firehouse 20 team for a short time. Tensions escalated between the two groups, especially in the midst of new territories being drawn through the city, and Captain Delaney ultimately asked Casey and Severide to move their trucks into the street. The two Chicago buddies called out this unfairness and stood up to Delaney in a moment that finally broke the heightening tension, and fans applauded Casey's ability to always fight for his fire family and stand by Severide's side. 

Casey Took Care of Ben and Griffin

Leadership never began nor ended in the firehouse. After the loss of his best friend, Andy Darden, and the subsequent arrest of Darden's wife, Heather, Casey heroically stepped in to take care of Darden's two children, Ben and Griffin. His bond with the kids lasted for the full series, as it's ultimately why Casey left Chicago; the glimpses into his stand-in parenting skills warmed fans' hearts in a memorable way. 

Casey Returned for Severide's Wedding

After his emotional departure in Season 10—and over a decade of brotherhood—there was no doubt that Casey would return to support Severide on his big day. After telling Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) he was "no longer fresh blood" in a heartwarming moment, Casey and Severide reunited for a sweet one-on-one moment.

"I don't want to get too sappy, but it's your wedding, so I'm going there," Casey told Severide. "I'm really grateful to be a part of this, Kelly. You guys are meant to be." 

To see more of Chicago's unbreakable bonds and determined spirits, tune into new episodes of Chicago Fire Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and next day on Peacock. Catch up on all Chicago Fire episodes on Peacock.