A lot will unfold in the next two episodes that will sort of really open up this storyline in ways that I really never thought we would explore. And it's been a tremendous pleasure.'

Chicago Fire very soon returns in the 2025 TV schedule with what is set to be a intense storyline for Joe Cruz after how the Season 13 fall finale unfolded back in November. While that final episode of 2024 didn't end on an imminent life-or-death cliffhanger like Chicago Med did,

Chicago Fire Season 13 returned tonight after the holiday break, and the winter premiere, aka Episode 9, is as explosive as the fans could have hoped for. The story predominantly focuses on Joe Minoso’s Joe Cruz,

He's so in a state of shock ... that his priority quickly becomes, how do I shove all of this that was in the closet back in the closet as quickly as possible and pretend nothing happened?'

The actor spills the details on the blackmail attempt on Joe Cruz to do something nefarious on the midseason premiere of the NBC procedural.

Miñoso’s portrayal has consistently captured the balance between Cruz’s vulnerability and his fierce loyalty, making him a fan favorite in the One Chicago universe. In this exclusive interview, Miñoso reflects on the unique opportunity of revisiting a storyline from the show’s very first season.

Chicago Fire has a lot of story to play with. The show has been on NBC for 13 seasons, and cycled through so many subplots and characters that it's anybody's guess where the writers will take things next.