Jennifer Esposito has built an impressive resume in crime dramas, frequently appearing in law enforcement-focused projects. From her various roles in the Law & Order universe to her part in Paul Haggis’ Crash and her guest appearance as CIA director Susan Raynor in The Boys, Esposito seems drawn to these roles—or they find her. In 2016, she joined the cast of NCIS, but like many original members, she eventually bid farewell.
Following Michael Weatherly’s departure as Tony DiNozzo in NCIS Season 13, the show introduced two new agents in Season 14: Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Esposito’s Alex Quinn. Their addition brought fresh dynamics to the Major Crimes Response Team (MCRT), with Torres’ background as an undercover agent and Quinn’s expertise as an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). For the first time, the team expanded to five agents, signaling an exciting shift after the exits of beloved characters Tony and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo). However, while Valderrama has remained with the series, Esposito quietly exited after just one season, without a formal sendoff.
Quinn’s character had an emotional depth that resonated with audiences. In NCIS Season 14, Episode 20, viewers were introduced to her mother, Marie Quinn (Mercedes Ruehl), who was battling Alzheimer’s. Gibbs, ever the compassionate leader, allowed Quinn to step away from a case to care for her mother, who struggled with the reality of her husband’s passing. As Marie’s condition worsened, Quinn ultimately chose to move in with her, prioritizing family over her career.
The Season 14 finale hinted at a deeper storyline for Quinn, with her receiving two mysterious phone calls. However, with Esposito’s departure, these moments were left unresolved. Co-showrunner Frank Cardea later revealed in an interview with Parade that Quinn’s mother’s illness was meant to “consume a little of her time,” suggesting that the character’s story had more to explore. In the NCIS Season 15 premiere, Torres briefly mentions that Quinn took a leave of absence to care for her mother, subtly implying that the unanswered calls were related to Marie’s health.
In an exclusive report from Deadline, Esposito described her time on NCIS as “a great experience” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. However, her departure remains one of the more abrupt exits in the show’s history, especially since her storyline was just beginning to gain momentum.
Esposito holds the record for the shortest tenure of any NCIS series regular, appearing in only 24 episodes. Yet, NCIS has a history of reviving past characters—sometimes even from the dead. While Quinn hasn’t been mentioned since Season 15, the door remains open for a potential return if Esposito is interested.
With NCIS now heading into its 23rd season and approaching the milestone of 500 episodes, there could be an opportunity to bring back former cast members for a special event. Given Quinn’s strong work relationships with Torres, Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), and Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), she could make a surprise appearance—perhaps in a future NCIS spinoff led by Torres.
For those looking to revisit NCIS, the series is available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
