What Happened in John Elway’s Golf Cart Accident? Inside the Tragedy

In April 2025, NFL legend John Elway experienced a horrific loss.

At the time, Elway was driving a golf cart when his longtime friend and former agent, Jeff Sperbeck, fell off the back of the vehicle. Elway subsequently called 911 and remained with Sperbeck until medics arrived. However, Sperbeck died from his injuries days later. He was 62 years old.

Elway — who is the subject of the Netflix documentary Elway, which started streaming on Dec. 22 — was left “devastated and heartbroken” by his friend’s death.

“Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others,” the former Denver Broncos general manager said in a statement at the time.

Here’s everything to know about John Elway’s April 2025 golf cart accident.

John Elway and Jeff Sperbeck were longtime friends and business partners

Sperbeck became close friends with Elway when he signed on as his manager in 1990, when Elway was the Broncos’ quarterback. In addition to Elway, Sperbeck worked with more than 100 NFL players throughout his three-decade career as both a business adviser and agent, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to managing Elway’s football career, he also partnered with Elway in his off-field businesses, including his Elway’s Steakhouse restaurant chain, his John Elway Dealership Group car dealerships and his 7Cellars wine brand, per the Associated Press.

They were traveling a short distance when the accident happened

Just after 7 p.m. on April 26, Elway, his family and his friends were leaving a private event sponsored by Vuori clothing line at The Madison Club in La Quinta, Calif., according to 9News. Elway was behind the wheel of the single-bench golf cart, with his wife Paige and Sperbeck’s wife Cori sitting next to him. Meanwhile, Sperbeck and reality star Johnny “Johnny Bananas” Devenanzio were standing in the back of the cart.

The group was the last in a small caravan, which also included Elway’s son Jack, Jack’s wife and several other friends, who were all going a quarter mile from the golf club to Elway’s home within the private community.

There was reportedly no horseplay or swerving during the ride, according to 9News. They hadn’t hit anything, either, but during the trip, Sperbeck fell straight back off of the vehicle.

Elway called 911 immediately after Sperbeck fell.

“I listened to the entire 911 call,’’ Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco previously told 9News. “He was very articulate. He was very responsive. He was not slurring his words. He was not hesitating in his response with the dispatcher. It was a normal urgent conversation.”

Ali Simon, who witnessed the accident, told KESQ that the fire department arrived on the scene within five minutes of Sperbeck’s fall.

“We got there, and [Sperbeck] was unfortunately lying on the ground, and there were people surrounding him just trying to make sure he was okay,” she said. “People were on the phone just trying to get help there as soon as they possibly could. It was so scary; it was nothing like we’ve ever seen. You just don’t think you’re ever going to witness anything like that.”

Bianco later told The Denver Post that medical personnel who arrived on the scene found no evidence that Elway was inebriated while driving the golf cart. Additionally, he told the outlet that investigators examined the golf cart for mechanical and equipment malfunctions, but found nothing to be out of order.

Sperbeck died four days later

Sperbeck died on April 30, after spending four days hospitalized at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., in critical condition and on life support. He was 62 years old.

“We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Jeff Sperbeck,” Sperbeck’s family said in a statement to Pro Football Talk. “He was a wonderful father, husband, brother, son and friend to many and will be profoundly missed by all. We are grieving this unimaginable loss as a family alongside our dearest friends, the Elways, and the many other clients Jeff called friends. We are grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support that we have received and ask for privacy for our family at this difficult time.”

The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau later ruled Sperbeck’s cause of death as accidental blunt head trauma, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office told PEOPLE.

Elway was crushed when Sperbeck died

Elway released a statement when Sperbeck died, expressing his grief over the loss of his friend.

“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” the statement said. “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.”

It continued, “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.”

Elway wasn’t charged with a crime over Sperbeck’s death

In July 2025, investigators ruled that Sperbeck’s fall was an accident and that Elway wouldn’t face criminal charges because “nothing criminal” took place.

“It’s over,’’ Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told 9News. “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 added that authorities closely and repeatedly watched surveillance video of the accident before determining that Elway wasn’t responsible.

“I’ve looked at the video 100 times and there’s no explanation as to why he fell off,” Bianco said. “He just fell off.”