Warren called the game "surreal" during his opening remarks to the players and fans.
"This is a historical moment," Warren told ChicagoBears.com. "This is the first time that women have competed in flag football at the collegiate level in the state of Illinois, _ever_. I just feel honored. I feel blessed that we were able to host this game. It is so powerful that it is in the Walter Payton Center, because he stood for excellence."
In his message to the athletes and fans in attendance, Warren paid tribute to the late Virginia Halas McCaskey, who was a trailblazer for women in sports during her time as the Bears' principal owner beginning in 1983.
"We had the most powerful woman in the history of the NFL, Virginia Halas McCaskey, who has helped build this franchise … We miss her already, but I know she is smiling.
"I just thank her, I thank \[chairman\] George \[H. McCaskey\], I thank all of the McCaskey family members who have supported us to be able to promote women's flag football and girls flag football here in the state of Illinois, across the NFL and across the world."