History will remember Sept. 29, 2003, as the date of the first Bears game at the new, $611 million Soldier Field. It was a night full of other firsts even if Bears fans won’t want some of the memories to last.
First chance to see how silent 61,000 screaming fans can go in a matter of seconds:
Ahman Green’s 60-yard touchdown run with 11 minutes 55 seconds left in the first quarter gave Green Bay a 7-0 lead.
First Bear introduced to crowd:
Staley, the team’s new mascot named in honor of the franchise’s original name–Decatur Staleys.
First current Bear to run through the inflatable Bears head onto Soldier Field:
Punter Brad Maynard jogged out before the rest of his teammates to loosen his leg, with kicker Paul Edinger steps behind.
First former Bear to walk onto the field:
Mike Singletary, taking a night off from his job as assistant coach of the Baltimore Ravens, led a parade of ex-Bears onto the field as he hoisted a football toward the crowd.
First coin flip result:
Heads, called by the Packers, who chose to receive.
First interception:
Safety Mike Green stepped in front of Javon Walker at the Green Bay 37 and picked off Brett Favre in the second quarter.
First tackle by a Bear:
Bobbie Howard on the opening kickoff return by William Henderson of the Packers.
First missed tackle:
Cornerback Jerry Azumah, on Green’s 60-yard run.
First solid tackle, period, on Soldier Field:
The security guards who wrapped up a Packers fan who ran on the field toward the Bears’ mascot carrying a sign.
First Bears’ gain from scrimmage:
A 3-yard pass from Stewart to fullback Stanley Pritchett on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage.
First Bear to carry the ball:
Rabih Abdullah, who was thrown for a 4-yard loss on the next play.
First dropped pass:
Bears receiver Ahmad Merritt letting a ball bounce off his hands on third down during the opening drive.
First sack:
Packers linebacker Nick Barnett wrestled down Stewart for a 5-yard loss on the Bears’ second series.
First good use of the 23-foot-by-82-foot video boards:
A pregame moment of silence honored the late Edward W. McCaskey, whose smiling image appeared as the colors were presented at midfield.
First bad use of the 23-foot-by-82-foot video boards:
A pregame music video that featured a singing Jim Belushi (“Sweet Home Chicago”) and a high-kicking Mike Ditka.
First hint that Paris Hilton might be researching football for her next movie:
The famous FOB–friend of Brian–was spotted walking toward Urlacher’s suite labeled simply by a sign outside the door that read, “#54.”
First indication that Bears fans missed their beloved team after going 20 months without seeing a game in town:
A grown man showed up four hours before kickoff wearing shoulder pads under a No. 54 Urlacher jersey.
First time fans got to cheer for a Bears touchdown:
Anthony Thomas going around right guard for a 67-yard run.
First impression of the view of the action of Soldier Field from the press box with the city’s skyline alight in the background:
Wow.
