Jeff Sperbeck, a close friend of legendary NFL quarterback John Elway and a former NFL agent, has passed away. Police have opened an investigation regarding the tragic golf cart accident that occurred last Saturday in La Quinta, CA.
John Elway Makes Call to 911 Instantly Following Accident
Though details are sparse, TMZ reported that Sperbeck hit his head on asphalt after falling off a golf cart that Elway was driving.
Although the Hall of Fame quarterback called 911 immediately, Sperbeck was pronounced unconscious after sustaining a traumatic head injury. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find that Sperbeck was still breathing despite being unconscious.
Jeff Sperbeck, the longtime friend, business partner and former agent of John Elway, died today from injuries he suffered when he fell off a golf cart being driven by the Hall-of-Fame quarterback. Sperbeck was 62.https://t.co/0YSfBLmSdM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Sperbeck was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA., where he was placed on life support. There was bad news upon his arrival, as doctors were set to harvest Sperbeck’s organs to donate them shortly after examining him.
Officials would later comment that Sperbeck was unable to withstand his injuries and passed away at 1:10 a.m. PST Wednesday. No further information has been released, nor has Elway commented on the matter.
The two men were with their wives and Elway’s son at the time of the accident. The group was leaving a party after they had attended the Stagecoach music festival earlier on Saturday.
Stagecoach is a yearly country music festival held at the Empire Polo Club in California. The festival lasts three days and is a sister event to Coachella, which serves more of the pop and hip-hop genres. In 2019, Stagecoach eclipsed 80,000 attendees, and it typically takes place in late April or early May.
Questions Surrounding the Accident
Elway is not under investigation for any wrongdoing. However, there are some questions surrounding the response by local law enforcement.
According to TMZ, “Police initially didn’t respond to the scene — a majority of law enforcement were working the massive music festival nearby.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the incident, according to News Channel 3 in Palm Springs.
Elway and Sperbeck’s Relationship
Sperbeck spent 30 years as an NFL agent. He represented over 100 NFL players, including Elway. Together, the two became thick as thieves and eventually became business partners.
Elway’s experience at high-class restaurants piqued his interest in the world of alcohol, more specifically fine wine. With the help of winemaker Robert Mondavi Jr., Elway and Sperbeck embarked on a new journey.
They launched a company called 7Cellars Reserve in 2015. Five years later, the company would expand from its Reserve wine to the Farm Collection. Now, their product can be found in stores across the country and various top dining locations.
