Peter Onorati played Jeffery "Jack" Mumford in S.W.A.T. as part of the main cast in season 1, but was surprisingly slowly written out of the show years later. Onorati starred alongside Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington, and Alex Russell, some of whom still appear on the show. Onorati's character, Jack, was a SWAT leader, and his team often worked closely with Hondo's team.
The S.W.A.T. cast has changed a few times over the years, but no character exit has been as strange and slow as Onorati's Jack Mumford. He started as a main cast member in 2017, then he was demoted to a recurring character, and then he disappeared entirely, only to return briefly in season 7. For the time being, there's no expectation for him to appear in season 8 of S.W.A.T. His mysterious departure has left an unanswered question in S.W.A.T. plots.
Peter Onorati Leaving S.W.A.T. Was A Creative Decision
The S.W.A.T. Showrunners Wanted To Expand The Other Character's Storylines
No official reason has been given for Onorati's departure. However, Onorati has spoken out positively about leaving the cast of S.W.A.T. after only playing Jack for a short amount of time. Jack was an exciting addition to the main cast, and it was odd to see him leave. However, his departure does not mean that a disagreement or interest in moving on to other work is what prompted the exit. In a post on X from 2023, Onorati expressed his gratitude to S.W.A.T. fans for watching the show and allowing him to have an amazing experience playing Jack.
More likely, he was written out of the show due to the show's ever-expanding storylines. Jack began as a main character in S.W.A.T. and shared a lot of screen time with Moore's Hondo. But the show has evolved since its first season to focus on Hondo's team. Having the two teams interact was great for the start of the show, but continuing it would have made the episodes too crowded.
How Did S.W.A.T. Write Off Onorati's Jack Mumford
Jack Retired In Season 2
Jack's role leading a SWAT team was short-lived when he announced his retirement in season 2, episode 19, "Invisible." While the decision may have come as a surprise, it was set up in the episode, "Jack," where Jack is shot and reevaluates his career as a SWAT member. While chasing a suspect, Jack gets shot in the head. Luckily, his helmet captures the bullet and the shock of the impact, leaving Jack physically unharmed but shaken by what happened.
As a result of the almost-fatal shooting, Jack decides to transfer his position as commander to his colleague, Donovan Rocker, played by Lou Ferrigno Jr. After Onorati left S.W.A.T.'s main cast, Ferrigno took over his role and has continuously guest-starred in S.W.A.T. ever since. Jack was an important character during his time on the show, but leaving did make room for the series to explore other characters' arcs more closely.
Jack Mumford's Return In S.W.A.T. After His Exit Explained
Jack Returned To S.W.A.T. In A Limited Role
Although Jack officially retires and leaves S.W.A.T. in season 2, he does reappear in seasons 4 and 7 for one episode each. In season 4, Jack returns to work on a case due to a personal connection. He and Hicks work together to track down and arrest a drug dealer that killed Jack's goddaughter years ago. When things start to go wrong, Hondo and the rest of the team join them to bring down the killer's drug ring in an intense and satisfying S.W.A.T. episode.
After his appearance in season 4, it was almost certain that Jack would not return in future seasons because his character had experienced a complete career and the closure of a case that was personal to him. However, season 7 offered a pleasant surprise when Jack returned to S.W.A.T. as a friend to Hicks and Buck. After a stressful day at work, Hicks goes to a bar with Jack and Buck and the trio spends the evening laughing about their shared memories and reminiscing on the past. The episode served as a welcome reminder of the early seasons of S.W.A.T.
Source: X
