“Blue Bloods” concluded its run in December 2024 after 14 seasons and 293 episodes, but according to series star Tom Selleck, the long-running CBS drama did not end because it had run out of steam.
As the final episodes aired, Selleck
who spent more than a decade portraying NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan made it clear that the show was still thriving when the network chose to bring it to a close. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he emphasized, “Nobody wanted it to end.”
Selleck went on to stress that the decision had nothing to do with declining quality or audience interest. “My biggest goal is to make sure people realize we went out in rather spectacular success,” he said. “The show wasn’t tired. It wasn’t anything else. Somebody may be able to tell me someday why CBS wanted to end it, but I haven’t had a good answer yet.”
CBS first announced in July 2023 that Season 14 would be delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Months later, the network confirmed the season would also serve as the show’s finale. At the time, Selleck publicly voiced his disappointment, telling fans that “a lot of people aren’t ready to say goodbye.”
Reflecting on his 15-year journey with the series, Selleck said he remained deeply engaged with Frank Reagan’s evolution throughout the show’s development and production. “I continued to learn about Frank and watch him evolve,” he told EW, adding that he was “never bored.” He also praised the ensemble cast, insisting that “nobody in this cast ever phoned a performance in,” and credited the writers for allowing the Reagan family to age and grow authentically over time.
Though the flagship series has ended, the franchise lives on. Two months after the finale, CBS greenlit a spinoff, “Boston Blue,” which premiered in October in the same Friday-night time slot. Donnie Wahlberg returned as Danny Reagan, with fellow Blue Bloods favorites Bridget Moynahan (Erin Reagan) and Marisa Ramirez (Maria Baez) making guest appearances early in the show’s first season.