Will Sean O'Neal Ever Return to 'Chicago P.D.'? Details on His Future in the Show

When you're part of the squad on Chicago P.D., you need every connection you can get. The procedural crime drama on NBC follows the fictional officers and personnel of the 21st District of the CPD as they pursue major crime in the streets.

The CPD tends to have eyes on several places, with connections allowing them to communicate with people they otherwise might not be able to. To that end, the 21st District has begun working closely with one Sean O'Neal (Jefferson White).

Season 10 of the series recently introduced us to Sean, who is related to a decorated officer in the Chicago Police Department. Unfortunately, the team finds reason to suspect that Sean is up to no good — and their suspicions are later confirmed. Who is Sean O'Neal and what is he doing for the 21st District? Keep reading to learn all about his character and future on the show.

Season 10, Episode 5 of the series introduced fans to Sean O'Neal. Shockingly enough, he is the son of Patrick O'Neal (Michael Gaston), the Chief of the Bureau of Organized Crime.

Sean is a former addict who initially assisted Officer Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) in locating a missing girl. When their search leads the CPD to uncover a human sex trafficking ring, Sean continues offering his assistance. However, Upton grows suspicious of him, believing him to be involved with the ring directly.

He's certainly not above opposing the law, especially given that his dad is directly involved with it. In an interview with TV Line, actor Jefferson White called Sean's relationship with the chief "complicated," which would inform his position as someone who outwardly skirts the law.

"He's got access to communities that don't necessarily trust the CPD because of the history and tension," Jefferson explained to the outlet.

He initially presented himself as a "kindred spirit" to Upton, but that dynamic has shifted considerably. As we learn in Season 10, Episode 7, Upton is all but certain that Sean is a part of the sex trafficking ring. But she can't arrest him without any proof, so the team works in secret to find evidence tying him to the operation.

Finally, in Season 10, Episode 9, Upton and Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) find enough evidence to link Sean to the trafficking ring. In fact, they rescue a van full of missing girls.

But when Upton and Voight go to make the arrest, they find out that Chief O’Neal is dead. Meanwhile, Sean is in critical condition after what seemingly appeared to be a fight between the father and son. Regardless, Sean's next stop is behind bars — but for how long?

It is currently unclear if Sean will return to Chicago P.D. now that he is locked up. Given the nature of his crime, it's likely that he'll be in prison for a long time. However, in the past five episodes, his character has been an interesting draw for viewers. Plus, given his insider knowledge about the human trafficking ring, he could be a valuable resource for the department. There is a chance that CPD will reach out to him in prison in later episodes and ask him to be an informant in future cases.

If you recognized Jefferson White in Chicago P.D., you may have seen him around on other shows. Jefferson previously had a major role on the Paramount Network series Yellowstone. He portrayed ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstrom for four seasons. He's also had major appearances in shows like Blindspot, House of Cards, How to Get Away with Murder, and the 2019 revival of The Twilight Zone. He also has had minor appearances in Blue Bloods and Law & Order: SVU.