NCIS Just Revealed A Surprising Detail About Tony DiNozzo’s Future

Published Oct 14, 2026, 3:08 PM EDT Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019 and is now one of the leading contributors of the TV News team. Having written over 4000 news stories in that time , with his work cited in Buzzfeed and TV Insider, he's always bemoaning that there's too many shows and not enough time. You can contact him at: aalghamdi@hey.com. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The article contains spoilers for NCIS season 24, episode 2, “Clean Slate.” Tony DiNozzo's tenure as the new NCIS Director is off to an interesting start. Season 24 has brought back Michael Weatherly to his role as Tony DiNozzo, including the actor in the opening credits and revealing that DiNozzo is now the new NCIS Director. He takes the role after Leon Vance's death, but it's not the perfect start. He spends most of episode 2, titled “Clean Slate”, seeming nostalgic and unsure of what his new job actually entails. But late in the episode, in a scene with long-time friend McGee, DiNozzo name-drops past NCIS heads and reveals what will make his stint different. He's happy to take on the responsibilities of NCIS Director. But to let off some steam, he says he will occasionally dip into the work he did during his 13 seasons on the CBS drama, slipping into the mode of a Special Agent. DiNozzo's quote to McGee is included below: Vance boxed, Jenny lit up the town. You know what I like to do? I like to bust bad guys. So I'm gonna do my job as director, and when I need to take a little break, blow off a little steam? I'm gonna go bust some bad guys with you. And it's not a distraction. It's the only way I know how to survive this job. The episode, written by Steven D. Binder & Christopher J. Waild and directed by Marc Roskn, plays on DiNozzo's history in the long-running franchise. At one point, he's called a “class clown,” but he still finds himself in a serious position. At first, he introduces himself to the NCIS characters that he's not as familiar with. He assures them that he doesn't want to get in their way. It's still not an easy transition. Franchise veterans like Torres and Knight are not quite sure what to make of him. He's also not sure about the new faces, making a rare reference to Abby during a drop-in to the lab. But by the end of “Clean Slate,” they seem to reach an understanding. He'll try to live in both worlds. It's unclear how long that balance is meant to hold, especially since it's unknown whether Tony is meant to be back for the long haul or whether Vance's true successor is waiting in the wings after a relatively brief comeback. For now, however, DiNozzo is sticking around. He'll even cross over to NCIS: Origins season 3 to meet with Gibbs for an episode slated to airTuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET. It'll mark the first time in ten years that Weatherly has shared the screen with Mark Harmon, his former NCIS co-star. NCIS season 24 airs Sundays at 8 PM ET on CBS. Release Date September 23, 2003 Network CBS Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario Cast Sean Murray Timothy McGee Michael Weatherly Tony DiNozzo NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines. Directors Dennis Smith, Terrence O'Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright Writers George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh Franchise(s) NCIS Main Genre Crime Creator(s) Don McGill, Donald P. Bellisario Producers Shane Brennan, Mark Harmon, Scott Williams, Steven D. Binder, Richie Owens, David J. North, Yasemin Yilmaz, Avery C. Drewe, Mark R. Schilz, Katherine Beattie, Chad Gomez Creasey, Mark Horowitz, Christopher J. Waild, Brendan Fehily, Marco Schnabel, David Bellisario, Chas. Floyd Johnson Seasons 24 Streaming Service(s) Paramount Plus Where To Watch Paramount Plus