In recent months, fans of Chicago P.D. have been eagerly following the off-screen relationship between Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos, who played iconic partners Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton on the show.
The real-life couple has been a subject of much curiosity, as they are notoriously private about their personal lives, leaving fans wondering about their current relationship status.
The couple initially sparked romance rumors after co-starring together for several seasons, with their on-screen partnership evolving into a love story.
Soffer, an original cast member, portrayed Detective Jay Halstead for the first ten seasons of Chicago P.D., while Spiridakos joined the show in Season 4 as Detective Hailey Upton.
Their characters eventually became partners, both in their professional and personal lives, culminating in a marriage.
However, Soffer exited the show in 2022 to pursue other opportunities, leading to the end of the beloved couple, Upstead, on-screen. Spiridakos is set to leave the series as well, with her final appearance slated for the end of Season 11.
While Soffer and Spiridakos never officially confirmed their relationship during the show’s run, the New York Post revealed in January 2024 that they had been secretly dating.
Despite this confirmation, the couple has maintained their privacy, not speaking publicly about their relationship.
Fans, however, were given a glimpse into their life together when Spiridakos shared an Instagram post in April 2024, celebrating Soffer’s milestone 40th birthday with a sweet photo of the two of them.
She also took to social media to praise Soffer for directing the penultimate episode of Chicago P.D. Season 12, captioning a post with her excitement about the episode, further confirming their relationship.
The couple’s posts continue to fuel speculation and excitement among fans, with many commenting on how heartwarming it is to see their real-life romance mirror the love story they portrayed on-screen.
While Soffer and Spiridakos have remained private, these subtle yet affectionate public gestures confirm they are still together, much to the delight of their fans.
In contrast to the happy news in real life, the Chicago P.D. characters Jay and Hailey are far from a fairy tale ending.
In Season 10, Jay Halstead left the CPD to investigate the cartel in Bolivia, and his sudden departure from the show, including his failure to respond to Hailey’s calls, led to their marriage’s unraveling.
In the Season 11 premiere, it was revealed that the couple had signed divorce papers, with Hailey struggling to finalize the paperwork.
By the end of the episode, Hailey managed to take the final step and mail the divorce papers, officially ending the relationship.
Showrunner Gwen Sigan confirmed in an interview with NBC Insider that the couple is “officially divorced,” and there are no plans for Halstead to return to Chicago P.D.
This development leaves Hailey to process the emotional fallout and find closure as her character moves forward.
While Soffer’s departure from Chicago P.D. marked the end of Upstead, fans continue to support both the fictional and real-life relationship, celebrating the genuine connection between Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos.
It’s clear that, although their characters’ love story may be over, their off-screen romance is alive and well, and fans are excited to continue following their journey.
