Everything to Know About Detective Antonio Dawson’s Journey Across the One Chicago Franchise

Antonio Dawson: The Cop with Ties to Firehouse 51

Jon Seda portrayed Detective Antonio Dawson, first appearing in the very first season of Chicago Fire. While he wasn’t a firefighter, Antonio’s deep connections to the crew at Firehouse 51 made him a key recurring figure on the show.

• He is the older brother of paramedic Gabriela “Gabby” Dawson, a series regular and key player on Chicago Fire.

• Antonio often got involved when firehouse members or their families were connected to criminal cases, making his presence essential to many crossover plots.

Though his role on Chicago Fire was recurring, Seda was a main cast member on the spin-offs Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice, and also briefly appeared on Law & Order: SVU in crossover episodes.

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Antonio’s Storyline Highlights on Chicago Fire

• Family Ties: Antonio’s close bond with his sister Gabby often pulled him into her orbit at the firehouse. He helped her navigate complex legal and emotional situations, including her fallout with Lieutenant Matt Casey.

• Tension with Voight: One of Antonio’s earliest arcs involved tension with Hank Voight, who was harassing Casey. Antonio tried to expose him through a sting operation. Ironically, Voight later became head of Intelligence and recruited Antonio to join Chicago P.D.

• Romance with Sylvie Brett: He shared a brief, on-and-off relationship with paramedic Sylvie Brett, culminating in an intense but ultimately short-lived romance in Season 6.

• Drive-By Shooting & Downward Spiral: After a drive-by shooting and a series of emotionally taxing cases, Antonio began struggling with opioid addiction—an arc explored more deeply on Chicago P.D. His final exit came when he relocated to Puerto Rico in an effort to recover and start fresh.

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Why He Left—and Could He Return?

Jon Seda exited Chicago Fire and the One Chicago franchise after Season 6, as his character’s arc moved entirely into Chicago P.D. before being written off completely. His character was not killed off—which keeps the door open for a possible return.

In a February 2025 interview with Screen Rant, Seda said:

“Antonio Dawson is still alive. If the call came, I’d love to step back into his shoes.”

This leaves fans hopeful for a surprise return—possibly tied to Gabby, Brett, or even a new criminal case in Season 14 or beyond.

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Where to Watch and What’s Next

As of now, Chicago Fire is on its mid-season hiatus following Season 14, Episode 7. The show returns to NBC on January 7, 2026, and past episodes featuring Antonio Dawson are available to stream on Peacock.