Bridget Moynahan Says the End of Blue Bloods Feels Like 'Saying Goodbye' to 'Family'

Bidding farewell to Blue Bloods feels bittersweet and premature for star Bridget Moynahan.

Appearing on the April 23rd episode of The Drew Barrymore Show alongside costar Donnie Wahlberg, the pair debuted a clip from the final season of the drama series, featuring the Reagans cracking jokes at each other's expense during Sunday dinner.

When host Drew Barrymore asked the duo how they felt about the series ending, Wahlberg, 54, confessed that the cast felt "more upset and sad" than "happy and satiated," as Barrymore suggested

Moynahan, in turn, shared a similar sentiment.

"I think it's more saying goodbye to the people behind the characters," Moynahan, 52, explained. "We've created such a family on set with each other and the crew — most of the crew's been with us for 14 years, so we've been through a lot of weddings, births, deaths, and everything. We've been through it all with each other."

Elsewhere in the episode, Moynahan called Wahlberg, 54, her "biggest supporter" during their run on the show. She additionally recalled how Wahlberg came to her defense when there were doubters about her abilities to direct an episode in the final season.

"I don't remember who it was so I'm not throwing anyone under the bus, but somebody came to me early on, someone said, 'Oh, Bridget wants to direct,' and I was like, 'Yeah, and? She's gonna do it, right?'" he continued. "It was like, do you think there's anything that she can’t do? She's been lights out, phenomenal, she's so… When you do what we do, you just know, and she just stepped right in and is so good."

CBS confirmed in November 2023 that the long-running police procedural will conclude with its 14th and final season, split into two parts.

“Blue Bloods will forever be a beloved part of CBS’ legacy," Amy Reisenbach and David Stapf, the respective presidents of CBS Entertainment and CBS Studios, wrote in a joint statement. “It ruled Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere and established itself as a pillar of our winning lineup with an exceptionally devoted fan base.” 

In addition to Wahlberg and Moynahan, Blue Bloods also stars Tom Selleck, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Marisa Ramirez and Vanessa Ray.

After the CBS drama was renewed for a 14th season in March 2023, Wahlberg spoke to PEOPLE about the possibility of the series getting canceled without a proper ending — and why he didn't want that for fans.

"I love Blue Bloods, and I think if there weren't a season 14, the loyal fans of the show would be very, very outraged," he noted of the series. "They're part of the Reagan family. The audience is the extended family."

At the time, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, citing sources close to production, revealed that the renewal was made possible by the entire cast and producing team agreeing to take "a 25 percent pay cut" to enable the cost of production.

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Blue Bloods airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.