Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway was represented by renowned sports agent Jeff Sperbeck, who passed away at the age of 62. Four days after sustaining a catastrophic brain injury in a golf cart accident, he passed away on Wednesday afternoon. The fatal injury was inflicted by Sperbeck on Saturday, April 26, just after 7 p.m., according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. On April 30, the agency announced that his next of kin had been informed of his passing.
According to earlier reports from PEOPLE, Sperbeck was riding with Elway at the time of the fall. Under mysterious circumstances, the longtime agent and friend was pushed off a driving golf cart and suffered severe brain damage.
After suffering a serious brain injury, Jeff Sperbeck was put on life support, according to a TMZ report on Wednesday. Doctors could only keep him alive long enough to allow for organ donation. The site also mentioned that after Sperbeck fell from the golf cart, John Elway was the one who called 911 first. In addition to being Jeff Sperbeck’s longstanding buddy, the 64-year-old NFL star and former general manager of the Denver Broncos, John Elway, was also his business partner.
During the course of his playing career, Sperbeck had played for Elway. When Sperbeck signed on as Elway’s agent during his NFL career in 1990, their working relationship officially began. Their relationship developed into a close friendship and fruitful business partnership over time.
The two were at The Madison Club in La Quinta, California, on Saturday night when the incident happened, according to local news organization KESQ. According to witnesses, Sperbeck was riding on the back of the golf cart when he abruptly fell off while Elway was at the wheel. According to KESQ, an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Sperbeck’s death has subsequently been started by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The department has been contacted by PEOPLE for more information.
VERY SAD NEWS: Jeff Sperbeck, the agent and best friend of #NFL star John Elway, died today. Elway was on vacation this week when Sperbeck slid off the back of a golf cart. Sperbeck was just sixty-two. Sad. John and the Sperbeck family are in our prayers and thoughts. Instagram: pic.twitter.com/dC9jVG5Egq — April 30, 2025, MLFootball (@_MLFootball)
Elway and Sperbeck combined their love of good wine and their desire for excellence to co-found the winery 7Cellars. In order to further boost the Hall of Famer’s post-football endeavors, Sperbeck also assisted Elway in opening a number of eateries under his name. Throughout his career, Sperbeck represented over 100 NFL players and was well-known for his astute negotiating abilities and solid client connections. Elway, a former general manager of the Denver Broncos and two-time Super Bowl champion, maintained a close personal and business relationship with Sperbeck.
