Why Did JJ Leave Criminal Minds? - CBR

Criminal Minds has been no stranger to cast turnover, losing key protagonists and having several seasons in which team members seemed to arrive and leave within the same year. Many departures caused a stir among fans, and the reasons became well known, including the dismissal of Thomas Gibson after an alleged on-set altercation and the early loss of Mandy Patinkin as Jason Gideon over the show's content. One that was nearly as dramatic, however, was the departure and later return of A.J. Cook's Jennifer Jareau, better known as JJ.

As part of a mid-series shuffle, partially based on budgetary constraints, Cook's character was written off the show, despite her seniority, through no fault of her own. More interesting, however, is that she returned less than a season later. So, why did JJ leave Criminal Minds? Here are the on and off-screen stories behind A.J. Cook's departure from Criminal Minds.

Updated on July 8, 2025, by Michael Colwander: Despite a brief departure, JJ has appeared in more Criminal Minds episodes than anyone not named Penelope Garcia. It's tough to imagine Criminal Minds without her. With a fourth season of Criminal Minds: Evolution in development, will JJ return for another season? This article was updated with more information about JJ's role in the latest seasons as well as her future in Criminal Minds.

Who Is JJ on Criminal Minds?

The Former Liason Has Since Become One Of The BAU's Best Profilers

Image via CBS

Jennifer Jareau was a member of the original BAU team on Criminal Minds since the first season. JJ first appeared in the second episode of the series, titled "Compulsion," as the Behavioral Analysis Unit's liaison with local police and the media. JJ didn't work as a profiler at first but as an integral member of the team who accompanied them in most cases. JJ even went on a date with Spencer Reid once. However, their relationship never became more than a close friendship, and JJ and Reid's relationship became one of the most beloved on the show. Once she returned to Criminal Minds, JJ assumed the role of a profiler -- continuing her work with the BAU in the field.

Related

Criminal Minds Cast & Character Guide

Criminal Minds: Evolution is finally back with Season 2 already in full swing. It’s hard not to miss a few notable Criminal Minds faces, though.

Posts By Maddie Davis

JJ played a crucial role in the episode "North Mammon" from Season 2, even though she hadn't shown any interest in becoming a profiler at the time and instead preferred her role as a liaison. JJ met her future husband, William LaMontagne, while working on a case with the BAU in the episode "Jones," also from Season 2. They had two children together over the course of the show, and JJ's role as a working mother became an important part of her character. This is especially wholesome for Cook as both of JJ's children, Henry and Michael, are played by Cook's real-life children, Mekhai and Phoenix Anderson. JJ's character development is one of the best in Criminal Minds, and the fans enjoyed watching her grow and overcome different obstacles throughout the series.

Why Did JJ Leave Criminal Minds in Season 6?

JJ Was Off Working for the Pentagon in the Middle East

Image via CBS

Despite being a rather foundational member of the BAU team, JJ was written off of the series during most of Season 6. But before anyone asks if JJ died -- she was still alive and well. The in-fiction reason was her forced transfer to the Pentagon, which was in turn a cover story hiding her real work on a task force in the Middle East. Apparently, the Pentagon job had been offered to JJ multiple times before, though it's unclear if those instances were also cover stories for similar secret work. Erin Strauss forces JJ to take on the job, and not even Hotch can help her stay with the team. The real-world reason for Cook's exit was less dramatic, though. The studio was looking to reduce costs, so it let go of both Cook and fellow Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster.

While Brewster stayed on for most of Season 6, Cook was given two episodes to wrap up her storyline. JJ's brief return in Season 6 was thanks to the numerous letters CBS received from fans demanding they bring JJ back to give closure to her story, proving just how popular and beloved her character was. While financial reasons were the biggest factor in the decision not to pick up Cook's contract, some speculated that she had chosen to leave for the standard "creative differences" that are often cited when an actor and show part ways.

Others viewed her dismissal alongside Brewster's reduction as a sexist decision. There was even speculation that some executives wanted "new women" on the show. While Brewster told The AV Club in 2015 that the network was "not particularly kind to women" and pointed to the significantly increased pay of her and Cook's replacement, Rachel Nichols, the generally accepted reason is still strictly financial.

When Did JJ Come Back to Criminal Minds?

A Gender Pay Disparity Nearly Cost Criminal Minds Numerous Great Characters

Image via CBS

Fortunately, Cook wasn't gone for long. The Season 7 premiere saw the return of both JJ and Brewster's Emily Prentiss to the BAU. JJ even reveals she took the necessary training to become a profiler and a field agent, and returns to the BAU team in a new position. Her return was bolstered by the outpouring of fan support after the announcement of Cook's departure -- no one except the studio seemed willing to let JJ go. JJ's in-fiction reason for her departure continued to play an important role in the series, and her time at the Pentagon becomes central to the overarching storyline in Criminal Minds Season 8.

Related

40 Darkest Criminal Minds Villains

Known for their dark tactics and twisted ambitions, Criminal Minds villains like George Foyet and Jeffrey Charles disturbed viewers and the BAU alike.

Posts 1 By Mayra Garcia

Cook's return didn't mean much of an improvement for women's wages on the series. In 2013, ahead of Season 9, Cook and co-star Kirsten Vangsness (who played Penelope Garcia) nearly refused to renew their contracts. CBS had made final offers to the main cast, which Cook and Vangsness reportedly were upset with due to being paid less than half of what their male co-stars were paid. It took more than two months for Cook and Vangsness to receive parity with male cast members.

This came just a few years after Cook and Brewster's roles were significantly reduced for cost purposes, leaving Vangsness as the only full-time female cast member for a while. Evidently, Criminal Minds has a long history of undermining its female characters and the actors who play them. Cook stayed on as one of the leading characters for the remainder of the original show's 15-season run and is now part of the cast of the revival Criminal Minds: Evolution (essentially Seasons 16-forward).

JJ Has Gone Through a Lot in Evolution

The Most Recent Seasons Have Featured the Most Personal Stories for JJ Yet

Image via Paramount

As noted, much of A.J. Cook's time in the public sphere is tied to her role as a female cast member in Criminal Minds, and whether that made her "expendable" back in Season 6, as well as whether her treatment on the series has been worse because she is a woman. With that in mind, Criminal Minds: Evolution has cleverly leaned into those themes with Cook's spotlight plot in Season 2.

15

Related

15 Saddest Criminal Minds Exits in the Whole Show, Ranked

Criminal Minds has had a host of great characters over the years who had equally sad exits.

Posts 4 By Marissa 'Rissa' Krasny

Prentiss learns that someone has used AI to create a sexually explicit "deepfake" website using the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) team as the subjects, with JJ as a central figure in the fake videos. Prentiss initially hid this from AJ, but Elias Voit (Zach Gilford), the serial killer known as Sicarius, who has assumed a role for himself on the team, utilizing his skills as a profiler, reveals the secret to JJ.

Throughout the season, fans have seen the comforting and kind JJ get more and more hardened as she confronts an evil that is all too real and one she can't "arrest." Once these videos are out there, they are very hard to stop. JJ has to think about her sons and what people would think if their friends (or their friends' parents) discovered these videos. Eventually, she confronted Prentiss, and the two longtime friends came to an understanding, with Prentiss apologizing for keeping it from JJ. The storyline is grounded in realism, as it reflects one of the many hardships faced by women in society.

In Season 3, JJ's story takes a turn for the worse as her husband, Will's, health issues creep back. JJ and viewers initially believe that Will's Season 1 cancer scare was a one-off issue. This idea had fans believing JJ and Will would be able to safely raise their children for however long AJ Cook wanted to star in Criminal Minds. Unfortunately, for fans, the showrunners had other ideas. With Josh Stewart not returning for Seasons 2 or 3, the series killed him off using previously unaired footage from the filming of Season 1.

CBR Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Our main newsletter packed with the latest updates, reviews and buzz from the worlds of movies, TV, anime, comics, and beyond. Get ready and let's dive in! Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

In the scene, JJ and Will are in the kitchen going about their everyday routines when Will suddenly collapses on the floor. JJ reveals that Will was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead due to a rare thyroid aneurysm. What followed was a funeral, with the briefly returning Spencer Reid, sparking debate on whether she and Reid should get together, should JJ ever be ready to date again. For the remainder of Season 3, Will's death understandably hangs over JJ.

Will JJ Be Back For Evolution Season 4?

How Much Will Season 4 Develop Her Storyline?

JJ has a lot on her plate now. Not only did the love of her life suddenly die, but she now has to raise her children alone while working a profession that requires a significant amount of her time. This development would be the perfect excuse to give JJ a proper send-off, unlike her sudden and controversial exit earlier in the series. That begs the question: Will JJ return for Season 4?

Season 4 of Evolution began shooting in May 2025. On May 30, the show's official Instagram page posted a BAU cast photo commemorating the start of filming for the new season. In the foreground of the picture, alongside Garcia, is Kirsten Vangsness. Cook is in full JJ attire, complete with her FBI badge.

Yes, JJ is officially confirmed to appear in Season 4 of Evolution in some capacity. While fans know little about the planned story for JJ in Season 4. Given the showrunner's M.O. of highlighting a different character each season, with JJ getting the spotlight in Season 3, it stands to reason that JJ's storylines won't be the most prominent among the BAU. That's not to say she won't have key storylines or the show will push her grief aside, but it likely won't be a dominant story. As Evolution gets closer to its presumed 2026 return, more information on JJ's story and likely other key questions, such as whether Reid will return, will likely be revealed.

All 15 seasons of Criminal Minds are streaming on Hulu and Paramount+. Criminal Minds: Evolution is also streaming on Paramount+.

Criminal Minds

Like Follow Followed TV-MA Crime Drama Mystery Thriller Release Date September 22, 2005 Network CBS, Paramount+ Showrunner Erica Messer Directors Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky Writers Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna Franchise(s) Criminal Minds

Cast

See All

• Kirsten Vangsness Penelope Garcia
• Matthew Gray Gubler Dr. Spencer Reid

A group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) using behavioral analysis and profiling to help investigate crimes and find the suspect known as the unsub.

Seasons 18 Powered by

Expand Collapse