Colin Donnell Returning to Chicago Med as Dr. Connor Rhodes for Two Episodes Starting December 9

Colin Donnell is returning to Chicago Med as Dr. Connor Rhodes for two episodes, beginning with the December 9 fall finale, according to People, as reported by TV Insider. His character will return to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center when Sharon Goodwin seeks his assistance with a young heart patient requiring a complicated and risky operation.

Colin Donnell Chicago Med Return Key Facts

Category	Details
Returning actor	Colin Donnell, according to People, as reported by TV Insider
Returning character	Dr. Connor Rhodes
Number of episodes	Two, according to People, as reported by TV Insider
First return episode	December 9 fall finale
Reason for return	A young heart patient needs a complicated, risky surgery
Character requesting help	Sharon Goodwin, played by S. Epatha Merkerson
Original character departure	Season 5, according to TV Insider
Chicago Med broadcast schedule	Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, according to TV Insider

When Is Colin Donnell Returning to Chicago Med

Donnell's return will begin with Chicago Med's fall finale on December 9, according to casting information credited to People in TV Insider's coverage.

The actor has agreed to reprise Dr. Connor Rhodes for two episodes. The casting marks a return to a character who was central to the medical drama during its earlier seasons.

The first appearance will take place during a storyline involving a young heart patient who needs specialized medical attention. Sharon Goodwin, played by S. Epatha Merkerson, will bring Rhodes back to help with the case.

According to People, as reported by TV Insider, the patient requires a surgery described as both complicated and risky. The storyline provides the reason for the former Gaffney surgeon to return.

The coverage confirmed two episodes but did not give a separate date for Donnell's second appearance. It also did not disclose the eventual outcome of the operation.

The return comes during Season 12 of Chicago Med, with TV Insider's coverage highlighting the significance of revisiting one of the show's longstanding characters.

Why Is Dr Connor Rhodes Coming Back to Chicago Med

Rhodes is returning because Sharon Goodwin needs his assistance with a young patient facing a difficult cardiac procedure, according to People, as reported by TV Insider.

The character's reappearance reconnects him with Gaffney Chicago Medical Center and some of the relationships established before his departure from the series.

TV Insider noted that Goodwin's involvement is significant because of her current storyline. Sharon has been fighting to keep her job after being accused of leaking a doctor's medical files.

The publication suggested that Sharon's role in bringing Rhodes back could indicate a change in her professional circumstances by the time of the fall finale. However, the casting announcement itself does not confirm how that storyline will be resolved.

Goodwin is one of the few characters remaining from Rhodes' previous period on the show. TV Insider identified Dr. Charles, played by Oliver Platt, as another character who was present during Donnell's earlier run.

The medical case therefore offers a narrative reason to bring Rhodes back while also creating an opportunity for him to reconnect with established characters.

What Did the Chicago Med Showrunner Say About Colin Donnell

Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald welcomed Donnell's return and described the character as particularly important to the series' history.

Speaking to People, as reported by TV Insider, MacDonald recalled that Rhodes was the first character audiences encountered in the opening scene of the show's 2015 premiere.

"He's one of my absolute favorites in the history of the series," MacDonald told People, according to TV Insider.

MacDonald explained that he had wanted to bring the character back since joining the drama. He described the return as a priority and expressed enthusiasm that Donnell had agreed to reprise the role.

"Both Colin and Connor have been missed," MacDonald said, as quoted by TV Insider from People.

The showrunner also praised the qualities Donnell brings to the character, including Rhodes' warmth, intelligence and complexity.

His remarks indicate that the casting decision forms part of a broader interest in reconnecting Chicago Med's current storylines with characters from the show's earlier years.

Why Did Connor Rhodes Leave Chicago Med in Season 5

Dr. Connor Rhodes departed Chicago Med in Season 5 following a devastating storyline involving his father and former girlfriend, according to TV Insider.

The publication recounted that Connor left Gaffney after fellow doctor Ava, played by Norma Kuhling, killed his father and then herself.

Those events brought Rhodes' original time at the hospital to an end. The newly announced two-episode return will bring Donnell back into the setting he left following that storyline.

TV Insider identified Connor as one of the show's original characters, reinforcing the significance of his reappearance for viewers familiar with the early seasons.

MacDonald's comments to People, as reported by TV Insider, also emphasized that Rhodes occupies an important place in the series' history because he introduced audiences to the medical drama in its premiere.

The casting announcement establishes the reason for his immediate return as the young patient's surgery, rather than announcing a permanent return to Gaffney.

No additional information about Connor's life following his original departure was provided in TV Insider's account of the casting news.

Which Other Original Chicago Med Cast Members Have Returned

Donnell's return follows a broader approach by showrunner Allen MacDonald to revisiting characters from Chicago Med's earlier seasons.

In a 2025 interview with TV Insider, MacDonald said he wanted to bring back original cast members over time rather than introduce multiple returning characters in a single episode.

"It is my plan to bring back all the original cast members at some time or another," MacDonald told TV Insider.

He explained that his preference was to reintroduce characters individually, giving each returning performer sufficient space within the story.

MacDonald cited Dr. Sarah Reese, played by Rachel DiPillo, whose Season 10 return allowed the series to revisit her relationship with Dr. Charles.

The showrunner said he was interested in how a more mature and experienced Reese would interact with Charles after their earlier history.

He also expressed concern that filling one episode with too many original cast members could prevent individual characters from receiving meaningful attention.

TV Insider reported that Nick Gehlfuss had also returned to the show during the previous season. MacDonald had previously acknowledged audience interest in bringing both Gehlfuss and Donnell back.

Discussing that demand in 2025, he told TV Insider that he would welcome Donnell's return. The newly confirmed two-episode appearance now fulfills that previously stated ambition.

Chicago Med continues to air Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, according to TV Insider. Donnell's scheduled appearance on December 9 gives the fall finale a returning character whose history reaches back to the show's 2015 premiere.

Frequently asked questions

What date does Colin Donnell return to Chicago Med?

Colin Donnell returns in the December 9 fall finale, according to People, as reported by TV Insider. His appearance as Dr. Connor Rhodes is confirmed for two episodes.

Why is Connor Rhodes returning to Gaffney?

According to People, as reported by TV Insider, Sharon Goodwin calls Rhodes back to assist with a young heart patient requiring a complicated and risky surgery. The announcement does not disclose the outcome of the operation.

Why did Colin Donnell originally leave Chicago Med?

TV Insider reported that Connor Rhodes departed in Season 5 after his former girlfriend Ava killed his father and then herself. The newly announced appearance brings the character back to Gaffney for a two-episode storyline.