DENVER — The death of John Elway’s longtime friend and business partner following a fall from a golf cart Elway was driving in California was officially ruled an accident.
In an update Friday, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said Jeff Sperbeck, 62, died from "blunt head trauma," and his death was an accident. His mode of death (how the injury occurred) was "passenger fell from golf cart."
UPDATE: La Quinta Death Investigation:
— Riverside County Sheriff (@RSO) May 9, 2025
The RSO Coroner’s Bureau has released the following information regarding Jeffrey Sperbeck’s cause of death. pic.twitter.com/lwYVrlLDZq
Denver7 Investigates reportedthat Elway was driving the cart when Sperbeck fell off around 7 p.m. local time on April 26. Sperbeck had been on life support at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs before he died just after 1 a.m. on April 30.
Last week, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told Denver7’s media partners at The Denver Post that Sperbeck's death appeared to be a “tragic accident.” He said first responders did not immediately contact the sheriff’s office to investigate after receiving the 911 call about the accident.
The sheriff’s office told Denver7 Investigates that it didn’t learn about the accident until April 28. Bianco told The Post there was “nothing we have found” to suggest law enforcement should have been involved from the outset.
“While the investigation is not yet completed, there is nothing we have learned to indicate this is anything other than a tragic accident,” Bianco said in a statement obtained by Denver7.
Bianco also told The Post there was no evidence suggesting Elway was inebriated, according to first responders at the scene.
A statement by Elway obtained by ESPN did not speak to his involvement in the crash.
“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” it read in part. “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.”
Sperbeck was a longtime business partner of Elway's, first serving as his agent and later taking over his business activities, according to Sperbeck's biography on the website for 7Cellars winery, which the pair started together in 2013. He represented more than 100 NFL players over three decades as an NFL agent, according to the site.
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
