While Chicago Fire is celebrated for its thrilling rescue missions, the deep emotional connections and personal struggles of its characters keep fans invested season after season. Among the show’s many unforgettable storylines, the complex father-son dynamic between Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and his father, Benny Severide (played by the late Treat Williams), stands out as one of the most poignant.
Benny Severide, a former CFD Chief, was a commanding presence during the early seasons of Chicago Fire. Though he had a stellar professional reputation, his personal life was far more complicated. Benny was largely absent during Kelly’s upbringing, reconnecting with his son only later in life. Initially cold toward his father, Severide gradually began to bridge the gap, uncovering how much his life and career had been influenced by Benny’s legacy.
Tragically, just as the two were beginning to mend their relationship, Benny passed away from a stroke. This sudden loss thrust Severide into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—resentment for Benny’s failings as a parent, admiration for his heroism as a firefighter, and fear of following in his father’s flawed footsteps.
The emotional crescendo of this storyline came in Season 7, Episode 7 (“What Will Define You”), when Severide delivered a heartfelt eulogy at Benny’s funeral, leaving viewers and characters alike deeply moved.
A Farewell Fit for a CFD Legend
Benny’s funeral was a well-attended affair, with many firefighters and colleagues gathering to honor the late chief’s contributions to the CFD. Severide, visibly conflicted, stepped up to deliver his father’s eulogy. The weight of his grief and unresolved feelings made his words all the more impactful.
“My father was a legendary firefighter. I know this because he told me all the time,” Severide began, eliciting a soft laugh from the attendees.
“But he wasn’t wrong,” he continued, recounting one of Benny’s most heroic acts during the 1993 Paxton Hotel fire, where he saved seven lives despite the building collapsing around him. “That was Benny Severide. He always had to do things his own way. He was stubborn, and man, he was tough. Sometimes too tough. He’d battle the people he loved as hard as he’d battle any fire. But every now and then, when you needed him the most, he’d have your back. Whether you knew it or not, no matter what the cost.”
Tearing up, Severide admitted, “It took me too long to figure that out, but I’ll never forget it.”
A Heart-Wrenching Goodbye
Severide concluded his eulogy by placing his medal of honor on Benny’s coffin, whispering, “Sleep tight, Dad. You earned it.” As pallbearers, including Severide and Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker), carried the coffin out of the church, a powerful tribute awaited them.
Firetrucks began arriving from every direction, each carrying uniformed firefighters there to honor Benny’s memory. The sheer number of lives he had touched and inspired was overwhelming, bringing Severide to tears. Boden exchanged a knowing look with Severide, reinforcing the deep bond between the two men and their shared understanding of loss and legacy.
The ceremony culminated with a final CFD salute, a unified gesture that solidified Benny’s place as a legend among Chicago’s bravest. Severide, overcome with emotion, watched as the community came together to bid farewell to his father—a man who was deeply flawed yet undeniably heroic.
Benny’s Legacy Lives On
This emotionally charged episode of Chicago Fire not only showcased Kelly Severide’s vulnerability but also underscored the enduring impact of Benny’s life and career. Through heartfelt storytelling and a stunning visual tribute, the series honored a character whose complexities mirrored the challenges and triumphs of real-life heroes.
