Ron Funches Labels Travis Kelce the Golden Retriever of Football

Comedian Ron Funches found a friend in Travis Kelce last year — and now he’s sharing insight into his pal’s endearing personality.

Funches, 41, posted a clip from his December 1, 2024 gig at Kansas City’s Comedy Club via Instagram on Sunday, January 19, revealing he’s a major fan of Kelce, 35. The pair first clicked when Funches appeared as a guest star on Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, hosted by Kelce, in October last year.

“I started doing this game show … and it’s hosted by Travis Kelce,” Funches was seen telling the crowd in the video. “We started to become friendly, you know? And then he knew I was coming out to do shows for Thanksgiving week and he hit me up on Instagram and he was just like, ‘Hey man, are you coming to my city, let me know if you need anything.’”

Labelling the Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end “a golden retriever of a human being,” Funches explained how Kelce invited him to attend an NFL game while he was in town.

Related: Travis Kelce Shocked Game Show Guest Stars as a Host: ‘Blew Us Away’

Travis Kelce was the host with the most on the Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? set — at least according to two of the game show’s guest stars, Natasha Leggero and Ron Funches. “He brings his traditional golden retriever energy of a man who’s super attractive yet down to earth,” Funches, 41, said exclusively […]

Funches explained, “He’s a f—ing good guy. He’s a good dude and not only did he get us tickets [but] an hour and a half before the game, I get another little ding on my phone. He was just like, ‘Hey man, I’m getting ready to go into game mode, I’m gonna turn my phone off but before I do, I just want to make sure you got in OK.’”

Kelce’s check-in impressed Funches to no end. “You Prince Charming mother f—er. He is amazing, he is a golden retriever of a human being. It’s probably why he’s so good at football. He just, like, sees the ball and, ‘I gotta go get it.’”

Funches briefly touched on the analogy during an interview with Us Weekly in October 2024, in which he discussed his Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? appearance and said, “[Kelce] brings his traditional golden retriever energy of a man who’s super attractive yet down to earth. He is a pretty amazing gentleman.”

The comedy gig also saw Funches make a crack about Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift, 35, whom he began dating in summer 2023. “I think he’s too good for her,” Funches joked in the clip, which drew loud laughter from his audience.

Funches’ praise for Kelce extended to his post’s caption, which read, “The rumors are true…@killatrav is a good dude.”

The Instagram clip came on the back of yet another public recollection that reiterated Kelce’s legendary status. According to former Chiefs running back Charcandrick West, who played for the Chiefs from 2014 to 2018, Kelce once faked being late to a Chiefs’ hotel so West, 33, wouldn’t get fined.

During an interview with ESPN that was published on Tuesday, January 21, West said he had been stuck in traffic one evening when he spoke to Kelce on the phone and told him he was going to miss the team’s evening curfew.

When West made it to the hotel, Kelce was standing outside waiting for him, as he didn’t want West to, “be the only one to get into trouble for being late.”