Jeff Webb, Influential Cheerleading Figure, Dies in Pickleball Accident

Jeff Webb, known as a “mentor” to the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, passed away on Thursday at the age of 76 after an accident while playing pickleball.

Varsity Spirit, the cheerleading organization he founded, announced that Webb sustained severe head injuries from a fall during a pickleball game two weeks prior to his death. After a difficult decision, his family chose to take him off life support.

Webb was a prominent conservative political activist and a close associate of Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025. Webb often reflected on Kirk’s impact, once noting that the nation had potentially lost a future presidential candidate following the tragedy.

“I think we may have lost a future president. Charlie Kirk had everything: charisma, faith, and respect for all people. Tens of thousands of new chapters are emerging in his absence. His legacy is only starting,” Webb remarked back in September.

He also attended the ceremony where Kirk was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom following President Donald Trump’s passing.

Webb established Varsity Spirit in 1974 and played a key role in transforming competitive cheerleading. A spokesperson from Varsity Brands expressed their sadness over Webb’s death, stating, “Jeff was instrumental in shaping cheerleading as we know it and fostering a community that has influenced countless athletes, coaches, and teams globally.” They added that his efforts had significant contributions to the sport’s growth, notably in collaboration with the International Cheer Union, which gained full recognition from the International Olympic Committee in 2021.