John Elway's Agent and Friend Jeff Sperbeck Dead at 62 After He Fell Off Golf Cart NFL Icon Was Driving Following Party
John Elway's friend and agent has died.
April 30 2025, Published 2:28 p.m. ET
John Elway's longtime agent and friend, Jeff Sperbeck, has died after a freak accident with the former NFL great on a golf course, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Sperbeck fell from a speeding golf cart driven by Elway and suffered injuries that originally left him on life support.
The two were friends and business partners in Elway's winery.
The 62-year-old passed away early Wednesday morning, according to the coroner's report at the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, just days after he suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off the cart.
The accident occurred at the Madison Club in La Quinta, a private golf resort community where Elway owns a home.
Elway, Sperbeck, their wives and the former athlete's son were reportedly on their way back from a post-Stagecoach party on April 26 when Jeff fell off the back of the cart, hitting his head on the ground.
He had been rushed to a trauma unit and placed on life support, but doctors indicated early that there was no hope he would make a recovery.
Instead, he was kept alive until doctors could make final arrangements for his organs.
The NFL Hall of Famer is said to be "devastated" by the news.
The football great made the call to emergency responders.
Sperbeck represented more than 100 players, coaches and executives, including linebacker Joey Porter, running back LaMichael James and wide receiver Nick Toon.
He represented Elway starting in the 1990s before the two became friends and business partners. Together, they started a winery called 7Cellars, a nod to Elway’s jersey number seven.
Sperbeck was well-loved among his clients, many of whom he stayed in touch with after their playing careers were over.
Police reportedly did not respond to the scene Saturday night, but the Riverside County Sheriff's Office was later made aware of the incident and has since launched a formal investigation.
Although they were returning from a party, there was nothing to indicate Elway was driving negligently. He is not accused of any wrongdoing at this time.
According to TMZ, Elway was the one who made the call to 911 after the accident. When paramedics arrived, Sperbeck was unconscious but still breathing.
A witness to the tragedy told KESQ Sperbeck's wife was grief-stricken.
"We were heading out of the community, and we pulled up," the witness shared. "It had to have happened probably one minute before us pulling up. We got there, and he was unfortunately lying on the ground, and there were people surrounding him, just trying to make sure he was okay. People were on the phone trying to get help there as soon as they possibly could.
"It was so scary. It was nothing like we've ever seen. You just don't think you're ever going to witness anything like that. His wife was hysterical."
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Condolences have already started to flood in, with one person on X sharing: "I feel so bad for @johnelway and everyone involved. My heart goes out to Jeff Sperbeck's wife and family.
"What a tragic accident. Just a freak fall from a golf cart and hitting your head wrong is all it takes."
