Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway’s longtime agent and business partner, died Wednesday after a tragic golf cart accident Saturday in La Quinta, Calif., according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Sperbeck, 62, had been on life support since the incident.
“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the pᴀssing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elways said in a statement, via ESPN. “There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me. My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.”
TMZ reported Wednesday that Elway was behind the wheel when Sperbeck fell off the vehicle and hit his head on asphalt at the private Madison Club community.
Sperbeck and Elway’s wives, as well as Elway’s son, were also there at the time of the incident, per TMZ.
The group had just left a party after attending the Stagecoach music festival earlier Saturday.
He was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs after Elway called 911, where doctors said his prognosis was “not good” and told his family “there’s no hope he will recover,” TMZ previously reported.
There are reportedly questions about local law enforcement’s response to the incident.
“Police initially didn’t respond to the scene — a majority of law enforcement were working the mᴀssive music festival nearby,” TMZ wrote on Wednesday.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the incident on Monday, according to News Channel 3 in Palm Springs.
TMZ added that there was “no indication” that Elway was at fault.
Sperbeck had been an NFL agent for 30 years, representing the likes of Elway, Ronnie Lott, Joey Porter, Jim Plunkett, Trent Dilfer and dozens of other players.
Sperbeck and Elway had also been business partners for decades, starting a winery called 7Cellars, a nod to Elway’s jersey number, in 2015.
