Shemar Moore leaves 'Criminal Minds' after 11 seasons

Criminal Minds is saying goodbye to agent Derek Morgan.

Shemar Moore is exiting the CBS procedural after 11 seasons. A cast member since the show first started, Moore's episode on Wednesday night was his character's last, after his pregnant wife survives a shooting and he decides to leave the force to spend more time with his family.

"I've treated my acting career like school," Moore told TV Guide about his career, which also included an 11-year stint in The Young and the Restless. "The Young and the Restless: eight years. [That was] high school. Criminal Minds: college. Now I'm ready for grad school, a Ph.D., whatever you want to call it. I'm just ready to grow."

Considering he's returned to The Young and the Restless for cameo appearances before, Criminal Minds fans shouldn't bid farewell to Morgan just yet. "This business is all about politics, so I'm not promising anything," he said. "But from a creative place, from a passionate place, if I'm asked intermittently to come back like they did at The Young and the Restless, from my heart, the answer is yes, yes, yes, yes."

So, it's not goodbye, it's see you later?

Watch Moore's goodbye message to his Criminal Minds fans here: