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Now that we know Billy Flynn is exiting Days of Our Lives for The Young and the Restless, the most immediate question we have next is: What’s happening to Chad? He’s been part of the Salem canvas nearly nonstop since Case Deidrick debuted in the role back in 2009. There was just about a year gap between when Deidrick left in 2013 and Flynn joined in 2014, but outside of that, Chad’s been around for 15 years now!

So far, we haven’t gotten word on how Days of Our Lives will be sending Flynn off, nor if they’ll be recasting Chad or simply writing him out. Either option could work, but with the success that Flynn’s had in the role for over a decade, it could be a tough sell right off the bat.

Killing Chad feels like a waste for such a popular character, though we’ll admit that he’s had less to do on the show since Abigail passed. He pulled away from his family’s company and did his best to pick up the journalistic torch left by his wife by buying The Spectator. He tried moving on with Stephanie, but couldn’t let go of Abigail. Then Chad tried moving on with a resurrected Abigail, only to learn she was a fake, forced to con him by Abby’s murderer, Clyde Weston.

Now, he seems to be moving on with FauxAbby/Cat, but there’s still that unavoidable tie to Abigail in this relationship that seems destined to set it up to fail. In other words, ever since her death, Abigail’s shadow has hung over just about everything Chad does. And that’s where the problem comes in. If the show can’t figure out how to keep Chad moving forward without tying him to his dead wife, maybe it’s time to give him a break for a bit.

We’re not saying kill Chad off when Flynn leaves — though that’s a definite possibility in a family like the DiMeras and with enemies like Clyde (who’s still alive, albeit in a coma). But he could always leave town with Flynn’s exit and give him a beat or two before they bring him back.

That’s what happened between Deidrick’s exit and Flynn’s entrance. Chad left town disgraced, having ruined any hope of earning Abigail’s love after she learned he faked a brain tumor to win her over. When he came back with Flynn playing him, he did his best to make amends and start over, which was the beginning of his and Abigail’s more enduring love story. (Give or take an affair or two and miscellaneous misdeeds.)

If Days of Our Lives can’t figure out how to get him away from Abigail’s specter, and won’t bring her back for a reunion, maybe the show should send Chad away for a time, at least, to reset him once more. It seems certain they’re heading for a Chad and Cat relationship (especially after Wednesday’s flirty episode), but if that all falls apart, it could give Chad the perfect excuse to head out of town and rediscover himself.

He could say goodbye to the DiMeras and be one of the rare family members who doesn’t leave town fleeing someone or something (like, say, the cops). Granted, that would just leave the “bad” DiMeras left in town with EJ and Kristen, but at least we know Tony is coming back! It’s not like Chad has had much to do with them lately, anyway, spending more with Julie than those he shares blood with. She would likely mourn his exit the most.

Of course, even if Days of Our Lives did kill him, that wouldn’t mean a whole lot. He is a DiMera and one of The Phoenix’s direct progenies. Resurrection is in the blood of all of Stefano’s children. But it would be kind of silly. Either way, we’ve got plenty of time before we find out the answer, since, thanks to the show’s shooting schedule, Flynn isn’t going anywhere until we’re into 2026!