Did Morgan die in Criminal Minds? Shemar Moore's exit, revisited 

Derek Morgan did not die in Criminal Minds. His exit was emotional, but it was not because of his death.

His exit was preceded by a traumatic incident where he was kidnapped and tortured, and his wife was shot while pregnant. The couple somehow survived the attack, but it prompted Morgan to leave the FBI's BAU to spend more time with his family.

In real life, the actor who plays Morgan, Shemar Moore, left the show after 11 seasons because he wanted to explore new acting opportunities and focus on his personal life. However, the writers have not killed his character, suggesting some possibility of his return in the future.

Why Did Derek Morgan Leave Criminal Minds?

The departure was entirely due to Shemar Moore’s decision, not because of behind-the-scenes drama or creative disputes. As mentioned, Moore wanted to explore more acting opportunities after spending years with criminal minds.

In 11 seasons, he had explored several angles of the character and was ready to move on to the next chapter. Moreover, a procedural like Criminal Minds shoots for about 10 months a year, leaving little time for other projects. Moore wanted the freedom to try new roles and also focus on his personal life.

Morgan’s final arc came in season 11 in the episode titled Derek, where he is kidnapped and tortured, somehow making it out alive. After two episodes, we see his wife, Savannah, who is shot while carrying his child, magically surviving the attack and giving birth to their child, Hank Spencer Morgan.

Though Morgan manages to catch the culprit, he eventually decides to leave his job and spend time with his now growing family.

Unlike other exits, such as Jason Gideon’s abrupt departure or Thomas Gibson’s firing, Morgan’s exit was written as a happy, voluntary goodbye. His exit further doesn't close the doors for the character forever in the show.

Criminal Minds after Morgan's exit

Morgan was one of the heart-and-soul characters of the show, and his departure hit fans hard. Even after that, the show carries on until its finale with Morgan making some brief appearances.

In season 12, Morgan visits the team to support Reid during his incarceration and Garcia to connect with Alvez. In season 13, he is seen consoling Garcia during a traumatic case, and we also see that he is happily married now with children. Seasons 14 and 15 show the character in brief flashbacks and dream sequences.

So far, Morgan hasn’t appeared in the Paramount+ revival. Shemar Moore is currently leading CBS’s S.W.A.T. as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, which keeps him busy.

In an interview with EW, Moore admitted:

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"Would I go back to 'Criminal Minds' and flirt with my baby girl, and chase down UnSubs? Sure, alright. But Hondo kinda busy, is all I'm saying."

Showrunners have kept the door open for both Moore and Matthew Gray Gubler (Reid) to return, but scheduling conflicts make it uncertain.

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