The Most Shocking Breakups in Chicago Fire, Med, and P.D. that Were Gutting to Watch
While many One Chicago sweethearts are thriving, these ill-fated relationships have plagued Chi-Hards.
Love burns bright in the One Chicago universe, but the romance doesn't always last forever. Across Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med, the swoon-worthy relationships formed among the first responders often add emotional weight to the high-stakes action of saving the day. Yet, for all the passionate moments between these heroes, many couples don't make it.
There have been some seriously gut-punching breakups in One Chicago history, but many Chi-Hards will agree that some hit harder than others. The grind of being a first responder has fostered several heartwarming relationships, but in many cases, the higher the rise, the harder they fall. There have been several on-again-off-again relationships: looking at you, Chicago P.D.'s "Burzek" and Chicago Med's "Chexton," couples who, despite breaking up in the past, ultimately earned their happily ever afters. There have also been death-related ends to relationships — such as that of Chicago Fire's Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Anna Turner (Charlotte Sullivan), who died of cancer, or Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and the ill-fated Evan Hawkins' (Jimmy Nicholas), who died in the line of duty. Those One Chicago ships may have sailed for longer had the tides of fate not turned against them.
RELATED: The Most Beloved Couples on Chicago Fire, Med, and P.D.
The One Chicago universe is jam-packed with heartbreak, but we're diving into the bona fide breakups that had viewers reaching for the tissues.
Chicago Fire's Matt Casey and Gabriela Dawson
Few breakups on Chicago Fire have left their burning mark more than the dissolution of Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund). The firefighter and paramedic were smitten from Season 1, and after a grueling will-they-won't-they wait, they finally shared their first kiss in Season 2, Episode 8 ("Rhymes with Shout"). After dating for several seasons, Casey and Dawson tied the knot in Season 5.
The couple navigated a maelstrom of issues; from a tragic miscarriage to a failed adoption, the odds seemed to be against them, inspiring the couple to break up a few times throughout their relationship. The nail in their coffin came in the Season 6 finale when Dawson was offered a job in Puerto Rico. Due to her ongoing issues with Casey, Dawson decided the position would be the respite she needed. However, that sabbatical soon became an estrangement from her husband that tormented the relationship.
Dawsey's divorce was all but written on the wall. Dawson returned in the Season 7 premiere ("A Closer Eye") to gather the last of her things and return to Puerto Rico for good. That said, the spark between Casey and Dawson was hard to snuff; when Dawson later visited Chicago in Season 8 following her departure, she and Casey hooked up but have since left their explosive chemistry in the past. Casey is nowadays married to fellow Chicago Fire alum Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer).
Chicago Med's Sharon and Bert Goodwin
No one wants to be ghosted, especially in their marriage. Sadly, Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) can safely say she's navigated that scenario after her husband up and left her on Chicago Med. To rewind back to Season 1, Goodwin was dealing with ongoing problems at home with her then-husband, Bert Goodwin (Gregory Alan Williams), with whom she shares three kids. Goodwin had every intention to work things out for the sake of their family, but in the Season 1 finale, Goodwin came home to learn that Bert had left their marriage.
The relationship's end was ultimately the best call for the couple, but it was downright devastating to see the Gaffney director abandoned like that — no one wants to see Goodwin cry. Despite some initial rockiness within their post-marriage relationship, Sharon and Bert are nowadays excellent co-parents and good friends; the Gaffney director has frequently helped care for her ex-husband as he navigates ongoing health issues.
Chicago Fire's Joe Cruz and Sylvie Brett
While some One Chicago breakups have inspired viewers to throw their remotes, occasionally, breakups are almost expected. Still, fans immersed themselves in the brief but beautiful relationship between Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) and Sylvie Brett. The couple met in Season 3 of Chicago Fire after Brett joined Firehouse 51, where she soon caught the eye of the charming Cruz. The couple began dating, but the chemistry wasn't firing off on all cylinders, leading Brett to decide to end the relationship over dinner in Season 3, Episode 18 ("Forgiving, Relentless, Unconditional"). However, that night, Cruz beat Brett to it, and the couple mutually chose to end the relationship.
Cruz and Sylvie's breakup wasn't necessarily jaw-dropping or shocking, but it was nonetheless challenging to see the spark between two powerhouses die out. Fortunately, both Firehouse 51 fan favorites have ended up with their own happily ever afters; both Sylvie and Cruz are married, albeit to others.
RELATED: Where to Watch Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D.
Chicago Med's Maggie Lockwood and Ben Campbell
The breakup between Maggie Lockwood (Marlyne Barrett) and Ben Campbell (Charles Malik Whitfield) was a romantic blindside that sent ripples throughout the One Chicago universe. Fans watched the pair meet, fall in love, beat cancer, and get married all within one season, so no one expected their relationship to one day fall apart. The couple first brushed paths in Season 5 of Chicago Med after running into each other during chemotherapy treatments, forming a close bond through their shared cancer battles.
Viewers cheered when Maggie and Ben began dating, later marrying in Season 5, Episode 17 ("The Ghosts of the Past") after celebrating their remission. The couple hit turbulence in Season 8 after Maggie reunited with her high school ex-boyfriend, Grant Young (Wayne T. Carr). Maggie and Grant navigated a teen pregnancy together, and when they reconnected decades later, Grant was still sweet on the Gaffney RN. After failing to tell Ben about her reunion with her ex, the couple struggled with trust issues that ultimately compelled Ben to end their marriage in Season 9 of Med. Maggie took the divorce hard — there was an entire fight over who got the cat — but she eventually moved on.
Chicago P.D.'s Detectives Hailey Upton and Jay Halstead
Saving perhaps the most troublesome breakup for last, Chicago P.D.'s Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) broke hearts after they navigated a multi-year relationship as close partners only to divorce from afar. After being partnered up in Season 5 of P.D., viewers soon noticed the partners flirting and connecting deeply. "Upstead" was a perfect slow burn — they developed an intense bond as partners before ever veering from the platonic — but no one was too shocked when they kissed and began dating in Season 8, Episode 3 ("Tender Age").
Upton and Halstead were happy for quite some time, eventually deciding to tie the knot with a secret courthouse ceremony in Season 9, Episode 9 ("A Way Out"). While P.D. fans were eager to see the couple thrive for the long haul, the grit and high-stakes nature of the Intelligence Unit eventually led their relationship to fall apart. After becoming fed up with his IU beat, Halstead tearfully revealed that he was accepting a new job in Bolivia to return to order. Upton supported his decision, but after a frenetic long-distance arrangement that saw Upton neglected by Halstead, she was forced to end their marriage in the Season 11 premiere ("Unpacking").
Viewers had waited years to see Upstead happy together, but sadly, they didn't get much time together as husband and wife.
RELATED: Are Upton and Halstead Actually Divorced? Showrunner Gwen Sigan Dishes Details
Watch Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. on Wednesdays on NBC, or stream episodes on Peacock, the perfect place for a One Chicago marathon.
