NCIS’s New Spinoff’s Best Cameo Is Nearly Impossible To Happen

While the setup of NCIS: New York gives the newest series in the NCIS franchise the best chance of featuring cameos from past members of the franchise family, the best cameo possible has a slim chance of coming to fruition. Premiering within the CBS fall 2026 lineup, NCIS: New York will feature the first returning cast member from another franchise spinoff in LL Cool J, who will be reprising his role from NCIS: Los Angeles. Coming into the new series as Sam Hanna again, the series will see Sam taking over the New York field office with a new team.

With Sam's return to New York giving him the opportunity to lead a new team that includes Scott Caan's Nick Schaeffer, a New York detective coming into NCIS with a different perspective, he'll likely have his hands full as he figures out his own leadership style. While there are many he could turn to from the world of NCIS to figure out how he's going to manage his new role, the person that most viewers would be interested in seeing return to the franchise is likely G. Callen (Chris O'Donnell), Sam's longtime partner from his time on NCIS: Los Angeles.

While other NCIS stars from the flagship series and other spinoffs could make cameos within the new series, Callen is the person that Sam would likely turn to for advice, and the former franchise star viewers would hope to see. Unfortunately, a Callen New York cameo may not be possible.

Chris O'Donnell Is NCIS: New York's Undisputed Best Cameo Option

As far as cameos go, NCIS is never shy to bring characters from other shows within the franchise into the fold, whether it be to crossover on stories or to simply bring another opinion into the mix. With LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam on NCIS: New York, the series has the chance to bring stars from both the currently airing and previous NCIS spinoffs to the series, but the stars of NCIS: Los Angeles are the most likely to make an impact on his journey. Knowing Sam's long-time partner was Callen, his cameo would be genuinely meaningful.

With few partnerships lasting as long or being as memorable than Sam and Callen's, seeing the pair together again in a minor capacity would be a great way to usher in a new chapter of Sam's career. While an appearance from Callen would be able to bring in the nostalgia factor for those who watched NCIS: Los Angeles, it would also be a great way to establish what's happened between the end of Sam's journey in Los Angeles and his new one in New York. Other NCIS: LA cast members could return, as well, but Callen's the best option.

Why It's Nearly Impossible For NCIS: New York To Bring Back Callen (At Least In Season 1)

Although Callen is the best option in terms of a cameo from the past NCIS franchise cast members on the newest series, the possibility of O'Donnell being able to make an appearance on the series is quite slim. O'Donnell currently stars in another major network drama, playing Don Hart in 9-1-1: Nashville on ABC. While it's possible he may want to reprise his role in the NCIS franchise in order to usher in a whole new series, O'Donnell's commitments to ABC and 9-1-1: Nashville are likely to keep him from the CBS series, due to both scheduling and contracts.

While Callen may be able to return in some capacity on the series if the networks are able to work something out in the future, his priority is always going to be the starring role he has on Nashville. A cameo from Sam's former partner isn't entirely out of the question forever, though, as things may shift around and it may become a priority to see Callen again in some way. NCIS: New York likely already has a stacked schedule for its first season, establishing a new team and building out its world, but seeing Callen would be exciting.