Sig Hansen Faces Another Medical Emergency — Is This the Moment He Leaves Deadliest Catch?
Is Sig Hansen Leaving Deadliest Catch After His Latest Medical Emergency? Here’s What We Know
The Season 21 finale of Deadliest Catch left fans reeling after legendary captain Sig Hansen suffered yet another frightening medical scare — one so severe that doctors urged him to retire, or at least drastically cut back on his time navigating the dangerous waters of the Bering Sea. Hansen collapsed aboard his vessel, the Northwestern, after what appeared to be extreme exhaustion. The emergency was a stark reminder that the brutal world of crab fishing does not spare even its most seasoned mariners.
For longtime viewers, this wasn’t the first time they had seen Hansen in a vulnerable state. Over the years, the Discovery Channel series has captured several of his health struggles, raising increasing concern about whether the 58-year-old fisherman would finally consider stepping away from the high-risk life that made him a household name.
With Deadliest Catch expected to return for a potential Season 22 in 2026, the big question remains: Will Sig Hansen still be part of the show — or is retirement unavoidable?
Is Sig Hansen Retiring From Deadliest Catch?
Despite the medical warnings and the emotional weight of recent seasons, Hansen has made one thing abundantly clear: he is not ready to leave.
During the Season 21 finale, when doctors strongly advised him to slow down or step away altogether, Hansen resisted the idea with characteristic bluntness.
“I don’t see that happening,” he said. “Quite frankly, I don’t want to.”
In an interview with People, Hansen admitted that while the thought of retirement crosses his mind more often now, he isn’t ready to hang up his captain’s gear just yet.
“I think I’ve got a few more years left in me,” he said.
“I think about it all the time… I’m more fearful every time we go out on the water. You think about your own mortality.”
For Hansen, the decision to stay on the water is emotionally complicated. The Bering Sea has taken many friends and fellow fishermen throughout his career. With each passing season, the risks feel heavier — but the call of the sea is just as strong.
At the same time, another part of Hansen’s heart is pulling him in a different direction: his family. He spoke openly about wanting to spend more time with his wife, June Hansen, and their grandchildren.
“Look at all the years and decades that June’s given up for me,” he said.
“I’ve got four grandkids now… I get it. I’ve become one of those guys — grandkids become your world.”
Still, even with his growing desire to be home more, Hansen acknowledged that turning away from crab fishing entirely is something he simply cannot do — at least not yet.
Has Sig Hansen Ever Left the Show?
While fans worried that Hansen’s recent medical scares might prompt him to leave Deadliest Catch, he has not exited the show due to health issues in the past. However, he did briefly step away in 2010 — not for medical reasons, but due to a conflict with Discovery.
At the time, Discovery filed a lawsuit against Hansen’s fellow captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand, claiming the brothers failed to complete production on a planned spinoff series. Hansen stood with the Hillstrands, releasing a joint statement announcing that none of them would be returning for Season 7.
“Given the situation with Discovery, we are unable to continue participating in Deadliest Catch,” the statement read.
Fortunately for fans, the parties reached a behind-the-scenes settlement, and all three captains returned to the show the following year.
A Look Back at Sig Hansen’s Medical History
Part of what makes Hansen’s continued presence on the show so contentious is the number of health crises he has endured while filming.
2016: First Major Heart Attack
Hansen suffered a heart attack during an episode of Deadliest Catch in 2016. The moment was captured in real time, shocking fans around the world.
“It wasn’t like you see in the movies,” Hansen later explained.
“I had this sharp pain behind my chest plate… it kept pushing.”
Doctors later discovered a blood clot lodged in one of his arteries. A rapid-response injection dissolved the clot, saving his life — but the health scare marked a turning point.
2018: Second Heart Event
In October 2018, Hansen experienced another heart attack, this one triggered by a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic he had been prescribed for a sinus infection. The unexpected reaction once again put him in the hospital.
2024–2025: Ongoing Exhaustion and Declining Health
The Season 21 finale highlighted yet another medical incident — this time brought on by extreme fatigue and overexertion. While not as acute as his earlier heart attacks, the collapse pushed doctors to advise him more strongly than ever to retire.
So… Will Sig Hansen Leave?
For now, no — Sig Hansen has no immediate plans to depart Deadliest Catch.
He acknowledges that retirement is inevitable. He’s more aware of his mortality than ever. He has a growing family he adores. But his passion for fishing and his identity as the captain of the Northwestern remain powerful forces in his life.
And for as long as his body — and his heart — allow, he seems determined to keep fighting the Bering Sea.
One thing is certain: whether he continues or eventually steps back, Deadliest Catch will never be the same without him.
