There was that March moment when NCIS fans realized Rocky Carroll was really leaving after 18 seasons—and it hit hard. His character’s exit wasn’t exactly quiet either: he died from a fatal shooting while trying to find the culprit of a weapons-smuggling operation, and Carroll explained how he learned about the write-off.
But then, somehow, the story doesn’t stop there. Misryoum newsroom reported that Rocky still has a current connection with the show, and the NCIS team decided to share the update with followers on April 13. The big reveal? Rocky is returning to NCIS, not as an actor this time, but as a director for an upcoming Season 23 episode.
Viewers learned it via Instagram, where the caption sat next to a photo of the actor giving notes to Sean Murray—aka Timothy McGee. The line was simple and hype: “NCIS tomorrow—directed by the legend, Rocky Carroll. 👏👏👏,” and you could practically feel the excitement through the screen.
Now, here’s the part fans were really waiting to confirm—when they’d actually get to see his episode. The installment is set to air on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Misryoum editorial desk noted that for a show this size, even a few weeks between appearances feels like a blink. Actually, it might not be fair to compare… but still—only a short time had passed since Rocky last appeared on NCIS.
What’s the episode about? According to a CBS press release shared through Misryoum reporting, the episode is titled “S.O.S.” and follows the team as they encounter a Navy lieutenant who was reported missing from a plane crash one year prior. As the investigation starts to move, the clues point to something darker than the original story—because the crash wasn’t the accident everyone thought it was. And yes, that wording is doing a lot of work. You can almost hear the tightening of the plot.
The comments basically turned into a mini reunion party. One person laughed, “The Director is directing! 🤣.” Another wrote, “I’m glad he is behind the scenes. I miss his character already 😭.” And a third follower summed it up with something like: Vance maybe gone, but Rocky Carroll still remains as part of the NCIS family and will continue his part as a director 🔥❤️.
Also, this isn’t Rocky’s first time steering an NCIS episode. Misryoum analysis indicates he has directed 29 episodes for the series (per his IMDb). His last episode was the Season 23 installment titled “Her,” which aired on March 3. So even if fans thought they were done with him after March, it turns out he was just switching seats. On April 14, we’ll see how he runs the case—though with a plot like this, it might get intense pretty fast. I mean, even the studio noise on a set like that—someone calling out cues, the faint hum of equipment—feels like it would match an “S.O.S.” kind of episode. And then, maybe, the writer’s room will do what it always does: surprise everyone again—just not in the way they expected.
Champions League quarter-finals LIVE: Liverpool vs PSG & Barcelona vs Atletico scores and reaction