‘This Is Us’ Season 2: How Does Jack Die? 4 Deadly Theories

“This Is Us” is getting closer to revealing exactly how Jack dies. In the Jan. 23 episode, the NBC drama showed how the fire started, giving audiences their final clue before showing Jack’s actual death next month.

In the episode, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) were given a small slow cooker from someone in the neighborhood who was moving. The owner warned that the knob was tricky, but it still worked. The slow cooker held out for 18 years.

When Jack turned off the slow cooker after the Super Bowl in 1998, the light started blinking again after he left the room. Then the knob sparked and was suddenly on fire. It spread to most of the first floor without anyone noticing because Kevin (Logan Shroyer), who lives in the basement, is at Sophie’s, and the family forgot to buy batteries for the smoke detector. Jack, Rebecca, Kate (Hannah Zeile) and Randall (Niles Fitch) are upstairs.

In “This Is Us” Season 2, episode 14, Jack’s death will finally be revealed. Audiences will learn exactly how he died during the fire. Of course, we already have a few theories about how he might die:

Jack Goes Back For The Dog — Fans know that Kate (Chrissy Metz) believes she is the reason Jack is dead, and Toby (Chris Sullivan) revealed that she has issues with dogs. That makes it seem like something dramatic happens with her puppy. Could Jack go back in for the dog? It would be pretty typical for him to want to be the hero, but he might die trying.

He Falls Into The Flames — The fire is coming from downstairs, and the Pearsons have a lovely wooden railing that pretty much lines the hallway. In the promo video for the next “This Is Us” episode (seen at the top of the page), we see Kate screaming for her father, but the two railings and burning staircase stand between them. In order for Jack to get to Kate’s room to help her, he may have lost his footing and fallen into the burning first floor.

He Jumps Out Of A Window — The Pearsons are on the second floor, and the first floor is consumed by flames. The front door doesn’t seem like an option. The windows might be the best way out. If Jack stayed behind for the kids and Rebecca to climb down some tied up sheets or blankets, it would make sense that they all get out fine. However, with no one to hold the makeshift rope for Jack, he’d have to jump. If he fell the wrong way, he could die.

Smoke Inhalation — Let’s remember that Rebecca seemingly had a plastic bag with Jack’s personal items, including his watch and wedding ring. That means he probably didn’t burn with the fire. If everyone else gets out, it stands to reason that Jack did too. However, his body might not be able to fight the smoke inhalation, which could cause his death.

Fans will find out for sure how Jack died in the post-Super Bowl episode, and it sounds like the episode will definitely bring the tears.

“It’s just an absolute soul-crushing event,” Ventimiglia teased to Entertainment Weekly. “Once you figure out the moment where it’s going to happen, you may get some hope — and then it’s all going to go away.”

“This Is Us” Season 2 returns Sunday, Feb. 4 after the Super Bowl ends around 10:15 p.m. EST.