Summary

• Detective Hailey Upton, played by Tracy Spiridakos, will be leaving Chicago PD in the upcoming season, but the details of her character's exit remain unknown.
• One possibility is that Upton will join her husband, Jay Halstead, in Bolivia, repairing their relationship and finding a happy ending together.
• Another theory is that Upton may leave the Chicago Police Department and join a different law enforcement agency, such as the FBI, based on her previous experience and the potential for a new job.

Bad news, Chicago PD fans — the actress who plays Detective Hailey Upton, Tracy Spiridakos, is planning on leaving the NBC police procedural series in the upcoming season. Unfortunately, not much is known about her character's exit, including which episode will feature her sendoff or how the producers will write her out of the show. So until NBC releases new episodes (which might not be until next spring or later since the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing as of the writing of this article), all anyone can do is speculate about how Upton will leave the series without knowing any concrete details.

Upton was introduced as Detective Erin Lindsay's replacement (following Sophia Bush's exit from the show) in the Intelligence Unit at the end of season 4. After Lindsay left, Upton partnered up with Detective Jay Halstead in the season 5 premiere, and the rest is history. The two developed a friendship that blossomed into a romance, and Halstead and Upton later got married in season 9. Meanwhile, Upton continued to grow as a cop and person, but following her breakup with Halstead during season 10, it sounds like it's time for her to depart the show in Chicago PD season 11.

7 Upton Joins Halstead In Bolivia

One of the more optimistic theories surrounding Hailey Upton's exit from Chicago PD is that she will leave Chicago to be with her husband in Bolivia. As fans recall, Halstead resigned from the Intelligence Unit and returned to the Army to track down drug cartels overseas. Even though season 10 featured the couple growing apart as Halstead stopped answering Upton's calls and kept on extending his contract with the Army, it wouldn't be far-fetched if they repaired their relationship. Yes, Upton took off her wedding ring in episode 20, but she never officially filed for divorce.

Sometime in Chicago PD season 11, Upton could decide that she wants to fight (some more) for her marriage, resulting in her joining Halstead in Bolivia. Upton deserves a happy ending (as does Halstead), and this would certainly give her one. But, as mentioned above, this is one of the more cheerful theories regarding Upton's departure from the NBC police procedural series.

6 Upton Gets Back Together With Halstead & The Couple Leaves Chicago Together

There is another way for Upstead to get their happy ending in Chicago PD season 11 — Halstead (theoretically) leaves the Army, returns to Chicago, tells Upton he wants to be with her, she starts wearing her wedding ring again, and the two move away from the city and start a new life elsewhere. Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Halstead in the show until his exit in season 10, has admitted that he is open to returning to the series, but only as a special guest star. So, this would be the perfect opportunity to get Soffer to briefly return and give his character the closure he never really got in his final episodes while giving Upton a proper sendoff.

5 Upton Is Offered A New Position In The CPD

Upton's departure from Chicago PD could be as simple as the detective getting a promotion within the Chicago Police Department. As mentioned above, Upton has been growing in her field, and the natural next step would be a promotion. Unfortunately, since Tracy Spiridakos will be leaving during an unspecified episode in season 11, her character's potential new job would be outside the Intelligence Unit at the 21st District. It would not make sense if Upton still worked in the same building, but viewers never saw her. As a result, if this theory turns out to be correct, Upton could be moving out of the 21st District and into a different precinct in the city.

4 Upton Leaves The CPD & Joins The FBI

Perhaps Upton will resign from the Chicago Police Department altogether and accept a new position at a different law enforcement agency, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Chicago PD season 11. The detective has experience working with the FBI, after all. In the seventh season, Upton was transferred to the FBI office in New York City to fill in for an undercover agent. She later returned to the Intelligence Unit in Chicago in season 8, but the seed of Upton one day working with the FBI had already been planted.

Given her history, it would make sense if Upton's exit revolved around her starting a new job at the FBI. However, that was the same excuse the writers gave while writing Sophia Bush's Erin Lindsay out of the show at the end of season 4. They might be hesitant to grant Upton the same fate, but only time will tell what they believe the best course of action is to take regarding her departure in season 11.

3 Upton Quits The Intelligence Unit & Police Work Altogether

One episode in Chicago PD season 10 might have hinted at Upton's exit. Episode 20 primarily focused on Upton and her getting kidnapped alongside one of Halstead's former informants. It was a traumatic experience, to say the least, and perhaps it will make the detective second guess her line of work. That kind of trauma is bound to take its toll on a person, and Upton may want to quit being a cop and explore a different path in season 11.

2 Upton Moves Out Of Chicago After Divorcing Halstead

One of the saddest theories for those who love Upton and Halstead as a couple is Upton leaving Chicago and starting a new life somewhere else without Halstead in Chicago PD season 11. Upton may decide to officially file for divorce in the upcoming episodes, effectively putting an end to Upstead. With the divorce could come the desire to pack up and leave the city that reminds her of Halstead, leading to her quitting the Intelligence Unit and accepting a position at a different police department in another city or state.

1 Upton Dies

The final (and most unwelcome) theory is that Upton will die in Chicago PD season 11. The season 10 finale ended with Officer Adam Ruzek's life hanging in the balance, but given the news surrounding Tracy Spiridakos' exit, perhaps the audience should be more worried about Upton. The writers have proven they are not afraid to kill beloved characters, so viewers should be rightfully frightened that Upton might meet her end in Chicago PD season 11.