The Real Reason Gabriela Dawson Left Chicago Fire: What Monica Raymund Is Doing Now

The departure of Gabriela "Gabby" Dawson from Firehouse 51 remains one of the most significant and heartbreaking exits in Chicago Fire history. As of the current date, December 10, 2025, fans still debate the dramatic end of the "Dawsey" relationship and whether the beloved paramedic/firefighter will ever return for good. Her exit was a pivotal moment that reshaped the entire dynamic of the show, specifically impacting her husband, Captain Matt Casey.

Dawson officially left the series in the Season 6 finale to pursue a long-term humanitarian mission, but the real-world reasons for actress Monica Raymund's departure were rooted in a desire for new creative opportunities. This article dives deep into the character's final arc, the actor's career motivations, and what she has been doing in the years since she left the One Chicago universe.

Monica Raymund: Full Biography and Career Profile

Monica Raymund, the talented actress who portrayed Gabriela Dawson for six seasons, has a rich and varied career that extends beyond the world of Dick Wolf’s procedurals. Her decision to leave Chicago Fire was driven by a desire to explore new artistic challenges, including directorial work and different types of roles.

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• Full Name: Monica Maria Raymund
• Date of Birth: July 26, 1986
• Place of Birth: St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
• Education: Graduated from the Juilliard School in New York City.
• Net Worth: Estimated at $4 million.
• Key Roles Before Chicago Fire: Maria "Ria" Torres in the Fox crime drama Lie to Me (2009–2011) and Dana Lodge in The Good Wife (2011–2012).
• One Chicago Role: Gabriela "Gabby" Dawson (Main role, Seasons 1–6; Guest, Seasons 7–8).
• Post-Chicago Fire Main Role: Jackie Quiñones in the Starz series Hightown (2020–2024).

The Exact Episode Dawson Said Goodbye to Firehouse 51

The final, definitive exit of Gabriela Dawson as a main cast member occurred at the end of Season 6. This emotional storyline left fans of the "Dawsey" romance devastated and marked a major turning point for the show.

Season 6 Finale: "The Grand Gesture"

Dawson’s character arc had been marked by a constant struggle to balance her high-stakes career with her personal life, particularly her marriage to Matt Casey. Throughout Season 6, the couple faced significant challenges, including the stress of their attempts to adopt a child.

The final episode for her character as a regular was Season 6, Episode 23, "The Grand Gesture," which aired in May 2018.

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In the episode, Dawson accepts a long-term job offer to lead a disaster relief unit in Puerto Rico. This professional opportunity represented a chance for her to make a greater impact, but it ultimately meant leaving her life and marriage in Chicago behind. The decision was presented as a necessary step for her personal growth, despite the pain it caused Casey.

The Real Reason Monica Raymund Left

While Gabriela Dawson's departure was framed as a character-driven move to Puerto Rico, the reality behind the scenes was a common one in television: the actress’s contract expired. Monica Raymund had been with the show since its pilot in 2012, and after six seasons, she felt it was time to move on.

Raymund's stated reasons for not renewing her contract included:

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• Seeking New Opportunities: A desire to pursue new acting roles and explore different genres and mediums, including directing.
• Creative Risks: A feeling that she needed to take risks and challenge herself with new characters.
• Geographic Change: A wish to move away from Chicago, where the show is filmed, and relocate westward.

She made it clear that the decision was a personal one for her career growth and was not made lightly, emphasizing that she loved her time on the show and the people she worked with.

The Return of Dawsey: Guest Appearances and Final Closure

Despite her main character exit, the door was always left open for Dawson to return, a common practice in the One Chicago universe. Monica Raymund did make a couple of notable guest appearances that provided closure for her character and the "Dawsey" relationship.

Season 7 and Season 8 Returns

Dawson’s first brief appearance after the Season 6 finale was in the Season 7 premiere, where she confirmed her decision to stay in Puerto Rico, effectively ending her marriage to Casey.

Her most significant return came in the Season 8 fall finale, which aired in November 2019.

• Episode Title: Season 8, Episode 9, "Best Friend Magic."
• The Plot: Dawson was back in Chicago for a fundraising gala for her relief organization. She and Casey shared a romantic evening, which reignited "Dawsey" sparks and left the possibility of their future ambiguous.
• The Aftermath: Ultimately, the two realized their paths were too different, leading to a final, bittersweet farewell that allowed both characters—especially Casey—to move on emotionally.

This guest spot was important for fans, as it provided a more definitive, albeit painful, resolution to the central romance of the show, freeing Casey to later pursue a relationship with Sylvie Brett and eventually leave the show himself in Season 10.

What Monica Raymund Has Been Doing Since Leaving Chicago Fire

Monica Raymund has been incredibly busy since leaving the confines of Firehouse 51. Her post-Chicago Fire career has been marked by a successful transition into a new leading role and significant work behind the camera as a director, proving her desire for new challenges was genuine.

Leading Role in Hightown (2020–2024)

Her primary project was the Starz crime drama Hightown, where she starred as Jackie Quiñones, a National Marine Fisheries Service agent in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

• The character was a stark contrast to Gabby Dawson, portraying a Latinx, queer lead battling addiction and investigating a murder.
• The series concluded with its third and final season in 2024, giving Raymund a multi-season run in a completely new environment.

Directing and Film Work

Raymund has also focused on her passion for directing, a pursuit she mentioned as a key reason for her departure.

• Directing Credits: She has directed episodes for various shows, including an episode of The Endgame (2021) and multiple episodes of her own series, Hightown.
• Film Projects: In 2023, she appeared in the film adaptation of the play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, starring alongside Kiefer Sutherland and the late Lance Reddick.

While fans of Chicago Fire will always miss Gabriela Dawson's presence, Monica Raymund’s thriving career as an actress and director confirms that her decision to leave was a strategic move that allowed her to expand her artistic horizons. The door for another guest appearance remains open, but for now, the story of Gabby Dawson is one of a paramedic who found her true calling far from the Windy City.