Why Severide Hasn’t Been Promoted on ‘Chicago Fire,’ According to Showrunner

Chicago Fire fans are puzzled about why Severide hasn’t received a promotion, but there’s a valid reason for it!

The procedural drama has experienced numerous changes over the years with various characters coming and going. One constant has been Kelly Severide, with Taylor Kinney’s portrayal of the firefighter remaining a cornerstone of the squad. Despite his late father being a highly respected fireman, Severide never leveraged his family name, choosing instead to carve out his own path to success.

Severide has proven his skills in arson investigations and possesses an acute ability to read people. He remains actively involved, whether he’s tackling emergencies or navigating his relationship with Stella Kidd (played by Miranda Rae Mayo). The two characters tied the knot in the season 10 finale.

Despite his accomplishments, Severide has not ascended the ranks as much as fans had hoped. He remains a lieutenant, dividing his time between his squad duties and arson investigations, without taking on a higher position. While other characters have received promotions over the years, Severide’s career progression seems to have stalled.

With Boden being promoted to Deputy Commissioner, there appears to be an opportunity for Severide to rise within the CFD. Yet, it seems unlikely he’ll take it. There’s a significant reason for this.

Addressing a reader’s question via TVLine, Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman explained that Severide has not been promoted because he doesn’t want a promotion.

“He’s got his focus on the thing he is obsessed with, which is arson and OFI, in addition to the squad, which he loves. There’s a lot of politics the higher you go up in rank, and Severide has no interest in that. He’s a get-your-hands-dirty kind of guy. So, arson is still very much on the forefront of his mind, the possibilities of moving to OFI are at the forefront of his mind, and all of that comes up. He’s dealing with all of that this season.”

Long-time viewers know that Severide thrives on being actively involved with his squad, rather than being tied down to a desk job. He dislikes paperwork and prefers being hands-on, helping those in need. He witnessed the impact of CFD’s political landscape on his father and others, and he wants to avoid the same fate. Severide prefers being “one of the guys” over taking on a superior role.

Severide is also self-aware of his temper and his tendency to challenge authority, traits that would not serve him well in a captain’s role. Consequently, he is more content remaining in his current position rather than moving up in rank to a role that doesn’t suit him.

Therefore, fans can rest assured that it’s not any external factor preventing Severide’s promotion. He simply finds more satisfaction and comfort in his role as a regular firefighter than he would in a management position. While fans might dream of him becoming captain, Severide is happy where he is, and that should suffice for Chicago Fire enthusiasts.

Chicago Fire season 13 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9/8c on NBC.