It’s hard to picture Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide as anything less than the seasoned, battle-tested firefighter he is today. But his journey on Chicago Fire began with a single line that set the stage for his cool confidence and emotional grit. What started as a playful tease quickly spiraled into tragedy, shocking fans during the series debut and carving Severide’s place in Firehouse 51 forever.

The One Chicago universe has always thrived on unforgettable first impressions. When NBC released a throwback video in 2021 of the stars revisiting their debut moments, fans were reminded just how far these characters have come. From laughter at Molly’s bar to life-or-death calls on the job, those first lines laid the foundation for stories still unfolding today.

Severide’s First Words Before Tragedy Struck

Severide’s opening moment was deceptively lighthearted. His first words came as a joke aimed at Andy Darden, his best friend and fellow firefighter. “Andy makes Squad the day I no longer am in charge,” Severide quipped, drawing chuckles from his team.

The humor masked what was about to unfold. Just moments later, Darden would tragically lose his life in the line of duty. For fans, the scene transformed from playful banter into heartbreaking loss, cementing Chicago Fire’s reputation for gut-wrenching twists.

Looking back years later, Kinney reflected on the scene with a mix of nostalgia and humor. Watching his Season 1 self sprint into danger shirtless, he teased that time had caught up with him. “Things hurt a little longer than they used to when that line was first uttered,” he joked.

Simple though it was, that opening joke gave Severide his defining quality: the ability to stay calm, confident, and even witty in the face of chaos.

Chicago P.D. Characters Made Their Mark Too

The throwback special didn’t stop with Chicago Fire. Chicago P.D. stars also revisited their first lines, proving that bold entrances were a franchise tradition.

For Jesse Lee Soffer, Jay Halstead’s debut was cheeky and flirtatious. Ordering drinks at Molly’s, his first line was, “Could I please send a couple of Long Island iced teas for the ladies in the corner?” It was a reminder that Halstead’s womanizing days came long before his evolution into a hardened detective.

Amy Morton’s Trudy Platt, on the other hand, came out swinging with her trademark sarcasm. After a cheerful “good morning sunshine” from a colleague, she flatly deadpanned, “Funny,” while snatching paperwork from his hands. Morton has since joked that Platt mellowed over time, but her sharp wit remains a fan-favorite trait.

Then came Patrick John Flueger’s unforgettable debut as Adam Ruzek. During a police academy drill, Ruzek stunned both viewers and his fictional instructor Olinsky with his daring approach. “You wanna kill yourself?! I’ll do it!” he shouted, before wrestling a gun away from his partner in a mock hostage exercise. The bold move impressed Olinsky enough to secure Ruzek a spot in the Intelligence Unit. Flueger still calls that scene his favorite moment on the series.

A Legacy of Explosive First Impressions

From Severide’s banter to Ruzek’s dramatic entrance, the first lines of the One Chicago franchise prove that small moments can spark unforgettable legacies. They hint at the bravery, flaws, humor, and resilience that have kept fans loyal for more than a decade.

With Chicago Fire returning for Season 14, Chicago P.D. launching Season 13, and Chicago Med beginning Season 11, the stakes are higher than ever. The characters who once stumbled into our hearts with a single line are now battle-tested veterans facing even greater dangers.