When the 2026 Fall TV schedule arrives, NCIS fans may be inclined to think that CBS attained access to a time machine, with Mark Harmon returning in full for NCIS: Origins, Michael Weatherly reprising Tony DiNozzo on NCIS proper, and LL Cool J bringing Sam Hannah back for NCIS: New York. These are magical times indeed, and all now we have our first look at present-day Leroy Gibbs in Season 3, which has sparked some fun reactions from fans.
CBS shared the entirely too-quick promo on social media, giving fans a quick juxtaposition between Mark Harmon’s Gibbs and Austin Stowell’s younger iteration from the early ‘90s. Check it out below!
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It's not a ton, but no complaints! We get to see Gibbs jotting away in his notebook, no doubt coming up with a rule about the proper way to craft S'Mores over an open flame, or even something actually relevant to the storyline. He's also still wearing the Titus Bait & Tackle hat that he donned in his final NCIS episode back in Season 19, which ties everything together nicely.
Harmon, who has served as narrator for NCIS: Origins since its debut, will appear on screen in every episode of the third season, for a present-day mystery that ties back to his Camp Pendleton days in the '90s. It's promised to be an action-packed story, and one that could potentially lead to more from Gibbs in the future, depending on how everything goes.
It seems like everything is going pret-ty good for this fan that clarified their dual reasoning for being a fan of the actor.
‘Mark Harmon fan’ - yes, for Playgirl magazine but more for the years in NCIS👍
@pgpage3
Classic Instagram fan behavior, that. It's like, why even bring Harmon's 40-year-old Playgirl appearance into the conversation if it isn't the #1 reason for being a fan. It's like saying I'm a fan of Coca Cola for the color of the can, but I like the taste more. Or maybe it's not like that, since soda isn't an adult entertainment mag. (No matter how many attempts I put forth with that specific alchemy.)
For further context, Harmon appeared in Playgirl back in 1986, bolstered by his run as St. Elsewhere's Dr. Robert Caldwell, as well as being named People's Sexiest Man Alive in January of the same year. Perhaps as a way to hyperbolize People's title, Playgirl dubbed the actor "Mr. Perfect," and his stardom only grew with the release of Summer School the next year.
Back to NCIS: Origins, though, where Franks and Gibbs could conceivably stumble across a copy of that Playgirl issue. One of the other more noteworthy reactions to the first-look promo came from NCIS: L.A. vet Eric Christian Olsen, the newly installed executive producer on the prequel drama. He simply wrote:
Goosebumps
Eric Christian Olsen
Now let's highlight some of the other hyped-up comments.
- Gibbs Gibbs Gibbs - @liz_h3
- The way I missed this man on the show (even if it's just origins) is unreal 😂😂 - @drawings.ncisandmore
- I've missed LJG - @tonyhlfc
- My guy 🙌 - @Aubriver
- Cannot wait! My hero!! - @onpointskillz_
- Oooooohhhhhh I can’t wait ❤️ - @caribare
Here's hoping the first full-length trailer for NCIS: Origins Season 3 will give us more to gnaw on as far as what the current-day mystery is. As well as a few looks at any other characters Mark Harmon might be interacting with on screen, assuming he's not doing all his investigating from in front of a campfire.
NCIS: Origins will return to CBS for Season 3 on October 6, 2026, with episodes streaming via Paramount+ subscription the next day.
