'Criminal Minds' Subtly Mentions [Spoiler] After OG Cast Members' Exits

The July 9 episode of "Criminal Minds" featured a subtle mention of fan-favorite characters after the exits of original cast members. The episode included a moment where J.J. shared Reid's reaction to her son Henry's college acceptance, mentioning that Reid, who is Henry's godfather, offered to put in a call to Caltech if needed. There was also mention of Witness Protection, which Hotch was placed under in the original show. Showrunner Erica Messer previously told Us Weekly in July 2024 that conversations had been held with Matthew Gray Gubler about returning as Reid, but his busy schedule has kept him from coming back. Gubler has publicly expressed interest in returning, saying in September 2023 that he would "absolutely love" to come back. Gubler will next appear on TV in CBS's "Einstein," playing the great grandson of Albert Einstein who uses his skills to help a local police detective solve cases.