East Rutherford, N.J. ? Giants coach Tom Coughlin wore an FDNY hat pulled low on his head, a small tribute to the many victims of Sept. 11.

The New York fire department cap replaced his usual Giants hat when his team kicked off the season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in a unique day throughout the sports world. From football stadiums to baseball parks around the country, teams and fans paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks four years ago.

In New York, the tributes had special meaning. The World Trade Center stood less than 10 miles from Giants Stadium, and smoke from the wreckage was visible for days from the stadium and the team’s nearby practice facility. The parking lot at Giants Stadium also was used as a staging area for fire, police and emergency service vehicles heading into New York.

Coughlin addressed Sept. 11 with his team all week, telling his players there was no way they could lose the game on such a meaningful day. After trailing early, the Giants came back to win, 42-19.

“A lot of that had to do with his belief that this organization represents this city,” running back Tiki Barber said. “We played with the kind of pride New Yorkers have.”

Fans react to the 9-11 anniversary announcement before the start of the Dallas Cowboys-San Diego Chargers game. That game Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego was one of several before which the anniversary was remembered.

Members of the New York fire department, police department, Port Authority, U.S. military, court officers and family members who lost loved ones in the attacks were given a standing ovation when they made their way onto the field before the game to help unfurl a flag for the national anthem.

During pregame introductions, Cardinals linebackers Karlos Dansby and Eric Johnson shook hands with everyone who was on the field.

“That was something special,” Dansby said. “Those guys laid a lot on the line. You’ve got to give them their respect. I just had to tell them, ‘Thank you.’ They did a lot for us here, protecting us.”

The crowd chanted “USA! USA!” when the special guests were introduced. After the anthem, four military jets flew over the stadium.

“It’s great that Sept. 11 hopefully can get back to a day of mourning, but also a day of celebrating life,” said Mark Heintz, a member of the FDNY who was on the field. “Because the guys didn’t lose their lives, they gave their lives.

“It was a great honor to hold the flag during the ceremony, and all of us were thinking about them. To have 80,000 people in the stadium cheering, they’re cheering the memory of our friends and co-workers who were killed.”

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey sang “America the Beautiful” before kickoff of the early games, and their performance was beamed to every NFL stadium. There were moments of silence and plenty of thoughts with those who have endured so much since that tragic day.

About 40 representatives from the families of Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field, took part in a halftime ceremony during the Titans-Steelers game in Pittsburgh.

The ceremony included a video tribute, and the Oak Ridge Boys sang “God Bless America.”

At the Bills-Titans game in Orchard Park, N.Y., 11 representatives from several branches of the United States Armed Forces and local EMT, fire and police departments were presented with a commemorative game ball by each one of the Bills defensive starters as they were announced during pregame introductions.

In San Diego, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson ran onto the field carrying an American flag during player introductions before the game against the Cowboys. After the national anthem, a bald eagle flew down onto the field.

There was a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium before the game against the Red Sox. Flags at SBC Park in San Francisco were at half-staff and the main center-field scoreboard read: “9.11.01 We will never forget.”

Each team in baseball wore caps with an American flag on them.