Chicago Fire

The Chicago Fire was an American football team in the short-lived World Football League for one season, 1974. Founded in late October 1973 by building magnate Thomas Origer, he was the first owner to purchase a franchise, for around $400,000. Chicago was the first franchise to sign a player, wide receiver Jim Seymour, fullback Bill Booker, and the first to sign a "name" player, quarterback Virgil Carter. Carter played in Chicago for the NFL Chicago Bears as well as the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers. Another notable Chicago Fire player was punter Chuck Ramsey, who would later go on to play with the New York Jets. The team played at Soldier Field. The first head coach of the Chicago Fire was Jim Spavital, who led the Fire to 7 wins and 13 losses in the 1974 football season of the World Football League.

Another team, the Chicago Winds, replaced the Fire in 1975 WFL play, though the new team was evicted from the second WFL after just five games.