LL COOL J Teases Explosive NCIS Return as Sam Hanna!

LL COOL J Makes Electrifying Return to NCIS: “Guess Who’s Back?”

LL COOL J is officially back in action in the NCIS universe — and fans just got their first exciting glimpse of his much-anticipated cameo.

In an exclusive sneak peek shared by Us Weekly, the Grammy-winning artist and longtime NCIS: Los Angeles star returns as Sam Hanna for the April 21 episode of NCIS, fittingly titled “After the Storm.” Sitting confidently inside NCIS headquarters, he delivers the line fans have been waiting for: “Guess who’s back?”

The teaser shows Sam stepping into the familiar surroundings of autopsy, reuniting with fan-favorite characters like Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), Alden Parker (Gary Cole), and Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover). Speaking about the crossover experience, LL COOL J calls it “cool” and “always fun,” while Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres) reminds viewers, “You met Sam Hanna 15 years ago on NCIS: Los Angeles.”

The excitement among the cast is palpable. Katrina Law (Jessica Knight) beams, “He’s so much fun,” while behind-the-scenes footage reveals Knight and Sam fighting side by side in high-stakes action sequences. Sean Murray (Tim McGee) adds, “This case is just fun. New dynamics, new energy.”

The episode centers around a mysterious bloodied man found at a bus stop—who turns out to have a direct connection to Sam. LL COOL J explains, “A friend of Sam’s gets caught up with a dangerous group, and the only person he’ll trust is Sam Hanna.”

Suiting up for his return, Sam walks into the NCIS office with style, prompting playful remarks from the team. “Even a man of steel has to dress like Clark Kent once in a while,” he quips with a grin.

Fans can expect everything they love about Sam Hanna: charisma, cool-headed confidence, and action-packed drama. “All the same chemistry, plus a little more action, plus a little more suspense,” LL COOL J teases.

After first joining the NCIS franchise in 2009 and starring in NCIS: Los Angeles for 14 seasons, LL COOL J also appeared in NCIS: Hawai’i before its cancellation in 2024. Now, he’s making his triumphant return in season 22 of NCIS, and fans won’t want to miss a second of it.