John Elway has spoken publicly for the first time following the tragic death of his long-time agent and close friend, Jeff Sperbeck, who died after sustaining injuries in a golf cart accident. The incident occurred on Sunday evening as the two were leaving a post-event gathering at the Stagecoach music festival in California. Sperbeck, 62, reportedly fell from the moving cart while Elway was driving. He was taken to Desert Regional Medical Centre in Palm Springs, where he was placed on life support and later died on Wednesday morning.
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In a statement issued to ESPN, Elway expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss. “I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” he said. “There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel.” The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the accident, though there is currently no suggestion that Elway had been driving recklessly.
Sperbeck began representing Elway in 1990 and managed the careers of numerous NFL players over the decades. The pair remained close both professionally and personally, launching a joint wine venture, 7Cellars, in 2015. “Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others,” Elway added. The two families were known to share a long-standing personal relationship.
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In a separate statement, Sperbeck’s family expressed their grief and appreciation for the public’s support. “We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Jeff Sperbeck,” they said. “We are grieving this unimaginable loss as a family alongside our dearest friends the Elways and the many other clients Jeff called friends.” The family has requested privacy as they navigate this difficult time.
