In the April 21, 2026, airing of NCIS Season 23 Episode 17 'Reboot'—as previewed in advance hype—LL Cool J reprised his role as Sam Hanna. The episode featured a botched computer system upgrade, the murder of a technician, a team member's death reference, and franchise history nods. Hanna surprised the team, assisted in the investigation, shared personal updates, and provided encouragement.
As teased in the promo, the episode opens with a family and plumber held hostage by an assailant. At NCIS headquarters, Kasie Hines oversees a vital computer system upgrade, recruiting four technicians Parker nicknames 'tech trolls.' The two-hour shutdown commences, but technician Darryl is discovered dead with a broken neck, suspected as murder. Jimmy Palmer concludes someone struck him, kicking off the investigation where Hanna joins to help track the killer.