You’ve seen him do it. Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the silver-haired, boat-building heart of NCIS, reaches into his pocket or taps his temple and drops a "Rule Number 12." If you're like most fans, you probably started scribbling these down on napkins years ago. Honestly, trying to track down a definitive gibbs rules list pdf is a bit of a rabbit hole. Most of what you find online is fan-made, and while some of those lists are incredibly detailed, they often miss the nuance of how these rules actually functioned in the show’s universe.
The rules weren't just a gimmick. They were a survival manual for a man who had lost everything.
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The Messy Reality of the Numbering
Here is the thing: the numbering is a disaster. If you're looking for a clean 1-to-100 list, you’re going to be disappointed. Gibbs didn't write these in a ledger. He kept them on scraps of paper in a small tin, and sometimes, he just made them up as he went along. Or worse, he reused numbers.
Take Rule #1. In the very first episode, "Yankee White," we’re told Rule #1 is "Never let suspects stay together." Simple enough. But then, seasons later, Gibbs tells us Rule #1 is actually "Never screw over your partner."
Which one is it?
Both. Executive Producer Shane Brennan actually cleared this up years ago. The "duplicates" exist because Gibbs combined his own life rules—the ones he started with his first wife, Shannon—with the "Golden Rules" he learned from his mentor, Mike Franks. Franks only had a few, and Gibbs just folded them into his own growing list.
The Heavy Hitters You Actually Need to Know
If you're building your own gibbs rules list pdf, you have to include the foundational ones that shaped the team’s dynamic for nearly two decades.
- Rule #3: Never be unreachable. (This was a Mike Franks rule, and Gibbs was ironically the worst at following it).
- Rule #4: The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself. Second best? Tell one other person—if you must. There is no third best.
- Rule #6: Never say you're sorry. It's a sign of weakness. (This is the most controversial one, and even Gibbs eventually struggled with it).
- Rule #8: Never take anything for granted.
- Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife. (Basically the unofficial motto of the show).
- Rule #12: Never date a coworker. This is the one Tony and Ziva spent years gracefully—and then not-so-gracefully—ignoring.
Why Some Rules Just Disappeared
You might notice gaps. Where is Rule #17? What happened to Rule #19? The truth is, many numbers were never revealed on screen. Writers would jump around to whatever fit the episode’s theme.
There's also the "Rule #10" incident. For years, Rule #10 was "Never get personally involved in a case." It was Gibbs' shield. But in the Season 16 episode "She," Gibbs literally burns the slip of paper with Rule #10 on it. He realized that after everything he’d been through, staying detached wasn't just impossible—it was wrong.
That’s the complexity a simple gibbs rules list pdf usually misses. The rules were meant to be malleable. Even the man who wrote them knew when they needed to be broken or tossed into the fireplace.
The New Prequel Context
With the release of NCIS: Origins, we’re seeing the birth of these rules in real-time. We're learning that Gibbs didn't just wake up one day with a code. He was a grieving, broken Marine trying to find a way to navigate a world that didn't make sense anymore. The show has already started planting the seeds for Rule #1 and Rule #3, showing how Mike Franks' influence began to merge with Shannon's original idea of "having a rule for everything."
Practical Tips for Your Own List
If you are compiling these for a project or just because you’re a completionist, don't just copy-paste from a random forum.
- Vary the Sources: Look at the "NCIS Database" on Fandom for episode citations. It’s the most accurate way to verify if a rule is "canon" or just a fan theory.
- Check the "Unspoken" Rules: There are rules like "You do what you have to do for family" that don't have a number but are just as important to the Gibbs character.
- Note the Changes: Mark the rules that were discarded, like #10. It adds a layer of depth to the list.
- Format Matters: If you’re making a PDF for print, use a "typewriter" font. It fits the aesthetic of Gibbs' basement much better than Helvetica.
Honestly, the rules were never about the numbers. They were about a team becoming a family under the guidance of a man who used a rigid code to keep his own life from falling apart. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the "knife" rule, the list is a fascinating look at one of TV's most enduring characters.
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The best way to start your own verified collection is to watch the "Rule Fifty-One" episode from Season 7. It’s the closest we ever got to seeing the "master list" in Gibbs' own handwriting. Use that as your anchor, then fill in the gaps from there.
Next Step: Look up the "Rule Fifty-One" episode transcript to see the exact moment Gibbs writes down the rule that bears the episode's name. It's the turning point where he admits he can be wrong.