History of Red Friday
Started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the late Red Coaters President Jim Schwartz, Red Friday was created to celebrate the kickoff of the NFL season while giving back to the local community. Today, this hallmark of Chiefs Kingdom goes beyond team spirit—it is a vital tradition of charitable engagement that helps Ronald McDonald House Northeast Kansas provide comfort and care to families when they need it most.
As our founding and forever partner, McDonald’s has championed our mission since our inception. The generosity of the McDonald’s community has helped positively impact tens of millions of families worldwide since 1974 through gifts of time, funds, and in-kind services. Here in Chiefs Kingdom, this incredible partnership comes to life every year when participating McDonald’s locations generously sell Red Friday flags. Their ongoing advocacy and community relations allow us to continually expand our local impact, ensuring families have the resources and support they need when a child is ill or injured.