Joe Reagan died off-screen before Blue Bloods began, but the series explained what happened to him during the first season. For fourteen years, the Tom Selleck-led series has focused on the close-knit Reagan family, which features several generations of cops that support each other around the Sunday dinner table even if they’re butting heads on the job. Joe is the one member of Blue Bloods’ Reagan family tree who is no longer with them, though he is never far from everyone else’s thoughts.

Some of the best episodes of Blue Bloods have revolved around missing Joe, especially after having learned in season 10 that he had a son the family never knew about. When Blue Bloods first premiered, Joe was said to have been killed in the line of duty, and subsequent episodes told the entire story of his death, making the first season memorable. Losing Joe continues to cast a shadow over the entire Reagan family years after learning the truth about what happened to him.

Joe Reagan’s Death Preceded The Events Of Blue Bloods
He Was Already Gone In The Series Premiere

Although Joe Reagan was a beloved member of the Reagan family, he has not appeared on-screen except in occasional flashbacks or home videos. He was already gone during the pilot episode, with his death casting a shadow on his whole family. Throughout Blue Bloods season 1, their grief was raw, with Joe’s absence motivating a few overarching narratives. One major storyline during those early years was about Jamie leaving his dream of becoming a lawyer to become a cop in the hopes of finding out what happened to his brother.

It is impressive that Joe Reagan feels as real and familiar as the characters who have been in the series for fourteen years, considering he died before the first episode…

Joe’s importance in Blue Bloods cannot be overstated. His death remains an important part of the Raegans’ story, whether they are saying grace at one of the iconic Blue Bloods family dinners, remembering an anniversary, or dealing with Joe Hill’s attitude toward the father he never knew. It is impressive that Joe Reagan feels as real and familiar as the characters who have been in the series for fourteen years, considering he died before the first episode and thus can only be known through what other characters say about him.

How Did Joe Reagan Die In Blue Bloods
He Was Killed By A Group Of Corrupt Cops

Joe Reagan had been working undercover for the FBI at the time of his death to infiltrate and expose a group of corrupt cops known as the Blue Templar in Blue Bloods. The Blue Templar had originally been an unofficial organization that policed the force but had become corrupted. They believed they were above the law and engaged in criminal activity, most notably killing witnesses at drug busts and stealing the money used in the operation to distribute among its members. Joe was killed when he got too close to exposing the group.

Joe’s death occurred shortly before his 32nd birthday when he was shot by Sonny Malevsky, one of the Blue Templar’s leaders. Near the end of season 1 of Blue Bloods, Frank arranged for all members of the group to be arrested after they also attempted to kill Jamie, who was looking into his brother’s death. However, Malevsky took his own life after confessing to murdering Joe.