Jeff Sperbeck, a business partner and former agent for NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, passed away on Wednesday after sustaining an injury last weekend at a golf resort community in California. He was 62 years old.
The cause of death has not been revealed. However, the Riverside County coroner’s office reported that Sperbeck suffered the injury on Saturday, which occurred at the Madison Club in La Quinta.
According to the Riverside County Fire Department, they responded to a call on Saturday after someone fell out of a golf cart. The person was taken to a trauma center but was not identified. The sheriff’s department is currently investigating the golf cart incident.
Elway was present at the scene of the crash, as reported by witness Ali Simon to Palm Springs’ KESQ-TV. Simon stated that she did not witness the accident but saw a man lying on the ground surrounded by people, with Elway on the phone.
Expressing his devastation and heartbreak, Elway acknowledged the significant impact Sperbeck had on his life and the lives of many others in a statement. He extended his deepest sympathies to Sperbeck’s wife, children, and everyone who knew and loved him.
Sperbeck began representing Elway in 1990 when Elway joined the Denver Broncos as a quarterback. Throughout his three-decade career as an agent and business adviser, Sperbeck represented over 100 NFL players.
Sperbeck was best known as Elway’s long-time friend, business partner, and agent. He played a crucial role in managing Elway’s successful off-field business ventures, including restaurants, car dealerships, and a winery. Sperbeck also collaborated with winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr in founding 7Cellars by John Elway in 2015.
Sperbeck also co-founded Sullivan & Sperbeck, a sports marketing firm which later became part of Octagon. He directed Octagon’s football division from 2001 to 2009 before starting his own sports management firm, the Novo Agency. In 2018, the agency merged with Rep1 Sports.
Apart from his career, Sperbeck was actively involved in various charitable endeavors.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/30/john-elway-jeff-sperbeck-death
