When Chicago Fire premiered in 2012, few could have predicted that its opening moments would ignite a television empire. Long before crossovers, cliffhangers, and wedding bells, there was a single line—one tossed-off remark from a confident firefighter named Kelly Severide. It lasted barely a second. Yet, in hindsight, those words would define an entire franchise.
More than a decade later, One Chicago fans still remember that fateful beginning. In a nostalgic 2021 YouTube video, the casts of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med gathered to relive their very first lines on the shows that made them household names. The moment offered laughter, reflection, and—for Taylor Kinney—a sobering reminder of just how fast everything changed on that first day in Firehouse 51.
The Calm Before the Blaze
Before Kelly Severide became the stoic, battle-tested hero of Firehouse 51, he was just another firefighter trading jokes with his crew. His first scene in Chicago Fire Season 1, Episode 1, captures that early camaraderie perfectly. The squad is gearing up for another call, the kind that could turn deadly at any second. With trademark swagger, Severide turns to his best friend, Andy Darden, and quips:
“Andy makes Squad the day I no longer am in charge.”
It’s a lighthearted jab—a friendly dig between brothers-in-arms. The crew laughs. The tone is easy. For a brief moment, the audience relaxes into the rhythm of firehouse banter.
But moments later, everything changes.
That same call ends in disaster. Darden is killed in the line of duty, setting off the emotional chain reaction that defines the entire first season—and forever altering Severide’s life. What began as a joke becomes a haunting echo of loss.
In one stroke, Chicago Fire established its emotional DNA: the unbreakable bonds of family, the cruelty of fate, and the weight of every second on the job.
Taylor Kinney Looks Back
Rewatching that scene nearly ten years later, Kinney couldn’t help but reflect on how far both he and his character have come. In the video compilation, he laughed at the youthful energy of his Season 1 self, half-joking about the physical toll of a decade’s worth of stunts and burns.
“Things hurt a little longer than they used to when that [line] was first uttered,” Kinney admitted, chuckling as a shirtless clip of Severide from the pilot flashed on screen.
Yet beneath the humor was something deeper: gratitude. That first line, delivered in a blur of confidence and danger, marked the beginning of a journey that would make Kelly Severide one of television’s most enduring heroes—and Taylor Kinney one of its most recognizable faces.
Over the years, Severide evolved from the charming, reckless firefighter we met in the pilot to a leader forged in tragedy. He’s faced down corruption, addiction, grief, and heartbreak—all while carrying the ghosts of his fallen brothers. And it all started with that single, casual joke before disaster struck.
Nostalgia Across the One Chicago Universe
The trip down memory lane wasn’t limited to Chicago Fire. Stars from Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med also revisited their very first lines, offering fans a rare look at how far their characters have come.
For P.D. alum Jesse Lee Soffer, the moment was pure irony. His character, Detective Jay Halstead, began not in a shootout—but at the bar Molly’s, suavely ordering drinks:
“Could I please send a couple of Long Island iced teas for the ladies in the corner?”
Soffer laughed as he watched the clip, saying, “So I guess at the beginning of the show, Jay Halstead was undercover and on the prowl.”
Amy Morton’s Trudy Platt, ever the sharp-tongued sergeant, entered the P.D. universe with a classic deadpan. When greeted with a “Good morning, sunshine,” she shot back with one word:
“Funny.”
Morton grinned at the replay. “I’ve become a much nicer person and less sarcastic,” she said—before giving the camera a knowing smirk that proved otherwise.
And for Patrick John Flueger, the memory of his explosive debut as Officer Adam Ruzek still gives him chills. His first line—screamed in the middle of a training exercise—was as intense as they come:
“You wanna kill yourself?! I’ll do it!”
The scene earned Ruzek a spot on the Intelligence Unit and remains one of Flueger’s proudest moments. “That’s actually still my favorite scene I’ve done,” he revealed.
How a Single Line Built a Legacy
Looking back, it’s clear that those first words were more than just dialogue—they were the DNA of the One Chicago universe. In Severide’s case, his opening line perfectly captured what would define him for years to come: courage, humor, and the ever-present shadow of loss.
That brief exchange with Darden wasn’t just the first moment of Chicago Fire—it was the spark that set the emotional tone for everything that followed. From that tragedy grew friendships, love stories, and a shared sense of purpose that has carried the show through fourteen seasons and counting.
For fans, the nostalgia is bittersweet. Watching Kinney, Soffer, Morton, and Flueger revisit those early days is a reminder that while the actors may have changed, the heart of One Chicago remains the same: resilience, loyalty, and family.
The Fire Still Burns
As Chicago Fire prepares to launch its fourteenth season, Taylor Kinney’s Severide stands as a testament to everything the franchise represents—sacrifice, strength, and the power of beginnings.
From a playful jab in the pilot to countless rescues and heartbreaks later, Severide’s journey has come full circle. The man who once cracked jokes before tragedy now carries the weight of a lifetime of them—and somehow, still walks through the fire.
And it all began with a single line that changed television forever.
Don’t miss the return of the One Chicago universe:
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Chicago Fire Season 14
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Chicago P.D. Season 13
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Chicago Med Season 11
Premiering Wednesday, October 1 on NBC and streaming next day on Peacock.
