NFL icon John Elway is grappling with the loss of his longtime agent, Jeff Sperbeck, who tragically died in a golf cart accident in April.
Reports suggest that Elway is “not coping well” with such losses, feeling “really upset and withdrawn.” This has understandably affected his usually vibrant demeanor.
Sperbeck, who was 62, died after falling from a golf cart driven by Elway at the Madison club in La Quinta, California.
Since the incident, sources indicate that Elway has been “very down,” not displaying his typical “man about town” energy.
A 911 call made by Cole Elway seeking help was released recently. During the call, Elway informed the operator, “we were in a golf cart and we fell out.”
“He fell out of the golf cart,” Elway reiterated, explaining that Sperbeck was behind him when the accident occurred.
Sperbeck was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and was placed on life support for four days before passing away on April 30th.
The coroner attributed his death to “blunt head injuries,” determining it to be accidental in nature.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office concluded their investigation, finding no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Sheriff Chad Bianco stated, “It’s over. I’ve always said this was a tragic accident.”
Sperbeck had been Elway’s agent since the 1990s and later became a business partner, co-founding 7Cellars Winery.
Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion and general manager for the Broncos, expressed his “deep sadness” over Sperbeck’s passing. He shared, “I feel like the sudden loss of someone that makes a lot of sense to me. My heart goes out to Jeff’s wife, Kori, and his children, Carly, Sam, and Jackson. Jeff had a profound impact on my life and the lives of many others.”
