Jason Gideon

Jason Gideon (played by Mandy Patinkin) was the BAU's best profiler on the CBS crime drama, Criminal Minds. He helped Morgan and Reid through their nightmares. He is shown to have a very close relationship with Reid, having hand picked Reid from the FBI Academy for his team; helping Reid through many difficulties (including his implied drug use), even leaving the good-bye letter for Reid to find. His 'father-son' relationship with Reid extended to non-work aspects as well; such as when he encourage Reid to ask JJ out on a date (by buying Redskin tickets for Reid's birthday), and insisting on 'Dr. Reid', as he believes people respect the young genius more. Through the first two season, Gideon is portrayed to be very good at chess, winning against Reid many times (only exception being Reid's birthday, 1x04), and encouraging him to 'think outside of the box'.

Prior to the series, he is said to have had a "nervous breakdown" (or "major depressive episode") after he sent six men into a warehouse in Boston with a bomb in it. All six agents were killed, and he was heavily criticized about the event. He would later confront the bomber, Adrian Bale and finally face the demons that had haunted him for months. He shows particular dislike for the practice of using religion as a defense or motivation for one's crimes.

He blamed himself for the torture Reid received from Henkle as he had ordered Garcia to add a virus warning to the videos Hankle posted. Gideon also has a son named Stephen, as shown in episode 1x11 ("Blood Hungry"). The nature of their relationship has not been directly stated, but it is implied that they have not seen each other very recently. Gideon began to lose confidence in his profiling skills after Frank murdered his girlfriend. During his final case in Arizona, he further lost faith in his abilities when his decision to release the unsub resulted in the deaths of both the unsub and a young woman.

As a result of his actions Hotch was suspended and this was the final straw for Gideon. Leaving his gun and badge behind at his cabin with a letter for Reid to find, he left to wayfare and to regain belief in himself and happy endings. Gideon shared much in common with real life FBI profiler John E. Douglas, who has written many books on the subject. Similarities include that both controversially predicted an unsub would have a stammer, and both required a prolonged leave of absence due to stress related illnesses acquired as a result of the job. He was replaced by David Rossi.

David Rossi

Rossi was born and raised on Long Island, New York, in the town of Commack. As a child, he was friends with a young Emma Taylor, who he refers to as the "one who got away." He was also close with Ray Finnegan, who eventually grew up to be a prominent local mobster. Rossi, however, avoided the lure of organized crime, and joined the Marines. After being discharged, Dave was recruited by the Bureau. He subsequently cut most ties with his former life, not even returning to Commack for Emma's funeral in early 2009. Rossi has had an apparently illustrious FBI career and sterling reputation, even outside the BAU confines. He claims to have "written the book" on hostage negotiation, and stepped in as a hostage negotiator in 4×03 ("Minimal Loss") when his fellow agents Reid and Prentiss were held hostage. He takes an annual leave to do cross-country lecture and book-signing tours, which apparently attract a lot of female fans, "if Barry Manilow isn't in town." He worked with Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) prior to his retirement from the Bureau. Rossi has been married 3 times, but has said the only people he knew how to make happy were "divorce lawyers". One ex-wife allegedly said he had a "flair for the dramatic", but he never specified which. He seems to be a lapsed Catholic, but still has a close relationship with D.C. priest Father James Davison.

Rossi was in early retirement until his voluntary return to the BAU in 2007. He had retired in order to write books and go on lecture tours, but returned to settle some unfinished business which wasn't immediately specified. Having served in an early form of the BAU, it was initially hard for Rossi to acclimatize to the current team structure, but he eventually did. Rossi revealed to Sheriff Caulfield his reason for returning: he held out a charm bracelet with the names of three children from one of his first cases. The children had found their parents stabbed to death in the family home with an axe, but the BAU couldn't solve the case. Rossi had promised the children he would find out who did it. Each year on Christmas Eve, Rossi called the children to let them know he hadn't forgotten them and hadn't given up on solving the case of their parents' murders. He kept with this tradition through his return to the BAU, though none of the children had replied to his most recent calls. The case had gone unsolved for 20 years. It was finally solved when the BAU found that a mentally handicapped carny clown had committed the murders accidentally when he broke into the house to play with the oldest daughter, the father surprised the man in the parents' bedroom and triggered the resulting attacks. After finally solving the case he gave to the kids, now grown up, the bracelet he kept with him and the house where the murders took place, which he had bought. While initially Rossi came back from retirement only to solve this case he continues working in the BAU.