For years, Dennis Smith was one of the people helping shape NCIS from behind the camera.

But eventually, he believed that chapter of his career had come to an end.

Then Mark Harmon stepped in.

Smith recently looked back on the unexpected phone call that brought him back to NCIS — and revealed why hearing Harmon’s name immediately changed his answer.

Smith was hardly a stranger to the franchise. He directed 63 episodes of NCIS, along with dozens of episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles and several other shows within the NCIS universe.

After directing the Season 13 episode “Homefront,” however, Smith moved on to other projects. More than a year passed, and he wasn’t expecting to return to the original series.

Then NCIS suddenly needed a director for an important Gibbs-centered episode.

The episode would become Season 15’s “Burden of Proof,” which placed Gibbs in the uncomfortable position of having to testify in court.

When another director became unavailable, Harmon reportedly went to the producers with a simple question:

Could they get Dennis Smith back?

Smith recalled being contacted about returning and initially wanting to know whose idea it had been.

When he was told Mark Harmon had personally suggested him, his attitude changed immediately.

He was coming back.

The story offers another glimpse into the influence Harmon had behind the scenes during his long run as Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

For viewers, Harmon was the face of NCIS. But stories from cast and crew over the years have also shown how involved he was in decisions away from the cameras.

And Smith’s connection to the franchise may not be finished yet.

After returning to the studio around the celebration of NCIS‘ 1,000th episode, Smith said he spoke with showrunner Steven D. Binder about the possibility of directing another episode in the future.

Nothing has been officially announced.

But decades after Smith first entered the NCIS universe, the door apparently isn’t completely closed.

And the reason he returned the last time was remarkably simple:

Mark Harmon wanted him there.