Latest news with #Sperbeck
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking update on John Elway after freak golf cart crash that killed his agent and friend Jeff Sperbeck
NFL great John Elway is strugglng to come to terms with the loss of his close friend and agent, Jeff Sperbeck. The Denver Broncos legend Elway, a two-time Super Bowl winner, was driving the golf cart that the 62-year-old Sperbeck fell from, sustaining a fatal head injury at a luxury golf course in California in April. Earlier this week, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office ruled that Sperbeck's death was an accident and that Elway will not face any criminal charges. The tragic incident occurred at the exclusive, members-only golf course in La Quinta. And now, a source close to Elway has revealed that the 65-year-old is in a dark place three months on from his friend's death. 'John is not coping well with the loss and the accident. He has been really upset and withdrawn,' a source was quoted as saying to Page Six. 'He is very down. He is not his upbeat, usual self.' The publication added that the source says Elway, usually a 'man about town', is 'no longer social' since the incident. A lawyer for Elway told Page Six about the ruling clearing him of any criminal wrongdoing: 'This has been a terrible situation for everybody. We always knew that John had done nothing wrong, however, that does not lessen the sadness.' Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco spoke to 9News in Denver about the ruling that Sperbeck's death was an accident, saying: 'I've looked at video 100 times and there's no explanation as to why he fell off, he just fell off. 'We've talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new. There was nothing criminal, it was what we've been saying all along that this was a tragic accident.' Sperbeck had been Elway's agent since 1990 and the two had collaborated on business ventures outside of football, too. At the time of his death, Elway said in a statement: 'I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck. '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.' During his time in the NFL, quarterback Elway spent the entirety of his 16-year career with the Broncos, retiring from the sport in 1999. He went out on a high, calling it a day after winning back-to-back Super Bowls. Elway and the Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and followed it up 12 months later with victory against Atlanta Falcons.
Yomiuri Shimbun
12 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
John Elway Won't Be Charged after Friend's Death Is Ruled an Accident
John Elway will not face charges following a law enforcement investigation of the death of Jeff Sperbeck, the Hall of Fame quarterback's former business partner and longtime friend. Sperbeck died in April at 62 after he fell from a golf cart that reportedly was being driven by Elway, 65. On Monday, the Riverside County (California) Sheriff's Office announced that it 'determined that the incident was a tragic accident with no evidence of criminal activity or intent.' 'Consequently, no criminal charges will be filed at this time,' the announcement continued, 'and the case will be documented as an accidental death.' The incident occurred at a private club in La Quinta as Elway was driving the cart to his nearby residence, according to Denver's KUSA. Sperbeck reportedly fell off the back of the cart and suffered a fatal head injury. The two had attended a music festival earlier in the day, according to TMZ Sports, and were leaving a post-event party when Sperbeck fell. He died two days later, per authorities. 'I've looked at video [of the incident] 100 times and there's no explanation as to why he fell off,'' Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told KUSA on Friday. 'He just fell off.' Bianco, who also oversees the county coroner's office, added that there was 'nothing criminal' about the case. 'It's over,' he said. 'We talked to everyone involved, and we found nothing new.' Sperbeck was Elway's marketing representative in the 1990s, when the quarterback capped a career spent entirely with the Denver Broncos by leading the team to two straight Super Bowl wins. Sperbeck, who also worked with dozens of other NFL players and coaches, subsequently helped Elway manage ventures such as restaurants and a winery. In an April statement to ESPN, Elway said he was 'absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck.' '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,' Elway said. '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.' After starring at Stanford, Elway was drafted by the Baltimore Colts as 1983's No. 1 pick before forcing a trade to Denver. He won NFL and Super Bowl MVP honors and was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection during 16 seasons with the Broncos. Elway went on to become a Broncos executive and help build the team that won Super Bowl 50. His direct association with the team ended when his contract expired in 2023. In the wake of the investigation of Sperbeck's death, Elway hired Denver-based attorney Harvey Steinberg, who has represented a number of athletes with ties to Colorado. Steinberg said in an email Monday that 'this has been a very difficult situation for everyone.' 'We always knew John had done nothing wrong,' Steinberg wrote, 'but that does not lessen the sadness associated with this situation.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
John Elway won't face charges in agent's fatal fall from golf cart
"It's over," Bianco told 9News on July 11. "We've talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new. There was nothing criminal. It was what we've been saying all along that this was a tragic accident." Bianco has said that Sperbeck, 62, was standing on the back of a golf cart at a course in La Quinta, California, on April 26 when he fell and hit his head. The Riverside County Coroner's Bureau ruled that his death was caused by "blunt force trauma" and that the manner of his death was "an accident." Sperbeck represented more than 100 NFL players during his career as an agent and business adviser, according to ESPN. He began managing Elway's business affairs in 1990, overseeing Elway's restaurants, car dealerships and winery, among other off-field interests. Elways played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, winning a pair of Super Bowl titles. He later served as an executive for the team, including a tenure as general manager and executive vice president.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Report: John Elway won't be charged in death of business partner
John Elway will not be charged in the April incident in which his longtime business partner fell off a golf cart driven by the Hall of Fame quarterback and later died, a Denver television station reported. Jeff Sperbeck was 62 when he passed away in La Quinta, Calif. Chad Bianco, the sheriff in Riverside County, Calif., told 9NEWS that the investigation confirmed the initial findings of an accident and that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. 'We've talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new,' he told the station. 'There was nothing criminal. It was what we've been saying all along that this was a tragic accident.' An official announcement from the sheriff's department is due soon, according to 9NEWS. Elway, Sperbeck and their wives were in the desert to attend the Stagecoach music festival, TMZ reported in April. Elway, 65, and Sperbeck founded 7Cellars winery together in 2013. Sperbeck also was Elway's longtime agent. Sperbeck, certified by the NFL, represented more than 100 NFL players as an agent and business adviser over a 30-year career, according to his bio on the winery's website. 'I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,' Elway said in a statement after Sperbeck's death. '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.' Elway played for the Denver Broncos from 1983-98, winning Super Bowl championships in each of his final two seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. He returned to the team as an executive in 2011, working as the general manager through 2020 and as president of football operations in 2021. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
John Elway won't be charged in golf cart incident that killed close friend Jeff Sperbeck
John Elway won't be charged in the death of his business partner back in April. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco confirmed what he told the Times two months ago: His department's investigation into the golf cart incident that led to the death of the Hall of Fame quarterback's close friend Jeff Sperbeck found nothing criminal. Bianco described it as a tragic accident. Bianco said in May that it appeared 'nothing nefarious' happened when Sperbeck fell from a moving golf cart that Elway was driving in the Madison Club community of La Quinta on April 26 about 6:50 p.m. The 62-year-old San Clemente resident hit his head and was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. April 30 at Desert Regional Medical Center, according to the Sheriff's Office. 'We have not learned anything that would indicate that this is anything other than a tragic accident,' Bianco told the Times in a phone interview May 2. Bianco told Denver TV station 9NEWS that the investigation has concluded and that Elway will not be charged. Elway, Sperbeck and their wives were in the Coachella Valley to attend the Stagecoach country music festival. Sperbeck was standing in the back of the cart when he fell off and hit his head on the asphalt, Bianco said. The cart was designed for two to four people, according to Bianco. Five people including Sperbeck, Elway and their wives were in it at the time of the incident. On April 30, Elway said in a statement that '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. 'I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,' Elway stated. 'Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.' Sperbeck represented more than 100 NFL players — including Elway beginning in 1990 — in 30 years as an agent and business advisor. Sperbeck and Elway later founded 7Cellars winery. Sperbeck attended Jesuit High School in Sacramento and played quarterback at Sacramento City College in 1981 and 1982 before transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is survived by his wife, Cori, three children he shared with his first wife, Anne — Carly, 33, Samantha, 31, and Jackson, 27 — and granddaughters Josie and Bo. Elway starred at Granada Hills High and Stanford before playing 16 seasons for the Denver Broncos, leading the team to five Super Bowls. The Broncos won the Super Bowl in Elway's last two seasons, 1997 and 1998. He later served as the team's general manager and executive vice president. Times staff writer Chuck Schilken contributed to this story.
