Why NCIS fans shouldn't expect the old Tony DiNozzo to return in Season 24

When it comes to some of the best characters on NCIS, Tony DiNozzo is one name that comes to mind for many. After all, he has been trained by none other than Gibbs, and fans also know him as his mentor's right-hand man.

Tony has been through a lot in the TV show, and it was in Season 13 when he believed that the love of his life, Ziva, was dead. So, he left NCIS and moved to Paris to raise their daughter, Tali.

Tony then made an appearance in Season 21, followed by the 2025 Paramount+ spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva, in which he reunited with Ziva, and the couple ran a private security firm. Since the spinoff was canceled right after Season 1, the couple did not come back.

But now, Tony DiNozzo is all set to come back in NCIS Season 24, and he's nothing like the man he used to be. In the upcoming new chapter, fans will get to see a Tony who's more mature and has a lot more changes in him.

Want to know all about him in Season 24? Read below!

A look at why fans shouldn't expect the same Tony in NCIS Season 24

If you're a longtime NCIS fan, then you'll be able to easily identify how much Tony has changed since the spin-off. However, he still has the qualities that made him popular, including his love for movie references, quick humor, confidence, and lively personality.

But Tony becoming a father, his relationship with his own father, and the years he spent learning from Gibbs have influenced him significantly. He is no longer the same person who might act mainly on impulse or let his ego guide every decision. His experiences have made him more responsible and emotionally aware.

As explained earlier, he hasn't lost his personality, but viewers will get to see an older Tony who's making better decisions in life after gaining so many different experiences. One noticeable change is the way Tony approaches difficult situations.

In the past, he could respond quickly, sometimes without thinking through the consequences. Now, he is more likely to pause and consider what he is about to do.

Now, he's not just focused on catching criminals and solving cases, but is also thinking about how his actions can impact his family and personal life. At the same time, Tony's role in Season 24 is different from the one he had when he worked as a full-time NCIS agent.

Rather than being a regular agent, he works outside the agency and becomes involved in investigations, beginning with a threat linked to the Secretary of the Navy while the team handles issues surrounding McGee’s son.

Many current members, including Parker, Torres, Knight, and Kasie, know Tony mainly through his legendary reputation. His reunion with McGee and Palmer brings familiar connections, while his interactions with Torres, Parker, and Knight introduce new dynamics.

Now that he has a family, Tony's committed relationship with Ziva and responsibility as Tali’s father have made him more grounded. He's even more thoughtful and careful about the consequences of his actions.

What Michael Weatherly has said about his character in NCIS Season 24

Michael Weatherly explained that Season 24 will highlight Tony's personal growth, while also keeping the qualities fans recognize. The actor said (via TV Insider):

"He still has lots of movie quotes and spunk and verve, but he’s also been through a pretty big learning curve."

Weatherly said Tony still has his familiar humor, movie references, confidence, and lively personality. He added:

"Rather than an instant knee-jerk reaction, he [now] takes a beat and thinks. He’s had a relationship with his father [Robert Wagner]. He’s had a full arc of mentoring by Gibbs [Mark Harmon]. He’s been a father."

This means that Tony's experience with fatherhood, his relationship with his own father, and Gibbs’s mentorship have taught him to pause and think before reacting. Weatherly has also confirmed that the spinoff remains part of Tony’s established story.

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