What happened in John Elway’s golf cart accident? Inside the tragedy

In April 2025, NFL legend John Elway tragically passed away.

At the time, Elway was driving a golf cart when his longtime friend and former agent Jeff Spurbeck fell out of the back of the car. Elway then called 911 and stayed with Sperbeck until medical personnel arrived. However, Sperbeck died from his injuries a few days later. He was 62 years old.

Elway, the star of the Netflix documentary “Elway,” which began streaming on Dec. 22, said he was “devastated and heartbroken” by his friend’s death.

“I will sorely miss the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love that Jeff brought to 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 you need to know about John Elway’s April 2025 golf cart accident.

John Elway and Jeff Sperbeck were longtime friends and business partners

Superbeck became close friends with Elway, signing him on as manager in 1990 when Elway was quarterback for the Broncos. In addition to Elway, Superbeck worked with more than 100 NFL players during his 30-year career as a business advisor and agent, according to the Associated Press.

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

They were traveling a short distance when the accident occurred

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

The group was at the tail end of a small caravan that also included Elway’s son Jack, Jack’s wife, and several other friends, all of whom had traveled 400 meters from the golf club to Elway’s home in a private community.

There was reportedly no horseplay or turning during the ride, 9News reported. They didn’t hit anything either, but during the move Sperbeck fell straight out of the car.

Elway called 911 immediately after Sperbeck collapsed.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco previously told 9News, “I listened to the 911 call the entire time. He was speaking very clearly.” He responded very politely. He had slurred speech. He did not hesitate to respond with the dispatcher. It was a normal emergency 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 unfortunately (Sperbeck) was lying on the ground and there were people around him trying to make sure he was okay,” she said. “People were on the phone trying to get help as quickly as possible. It was very scary. It was something I had never seen before. I never thought I would see something like this.”

Bianco later told The Denver Post that medical personnel who arrived at the scene found no evidence that Elway was intoxicated while operating the golf cart. Additionally, he told the outlet that investigators inspected the golf cart for mechanical and equipment failures and found no abnormalities.

Mr. Sperbeck died four days later.

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

“We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Jeff Spurbeck,” Spurbeck’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 greatly missed by all. We, along with our beloved friends, Mr. and Mrs. Elway, and the many other clients Jeff called friends, grieve this unimaginable loss as a family. We appreciate the overwhelming support we have received and ask for our family’s privacy during this difficult time.”

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office later ruled Sperbeck’s cause of death to be accidental blunt head trauma, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office tells PEOPLE.

Elway was devastated when Sperbeck died.

Elway released a statement upon Sperbeck’s death, expressing his sadness at the loss of his friend.

“I am truly devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my best friend, business partner, and agent, Jeff Sperbeck,” he said in a statement. “There are no words to truly express the deep sadness I feel over the sudden loss of someone so dear to me.”

He continued: “My 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 greatly missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought to my life and the lives of so many others.”

Elway was not charged with a crime in Sperbeck’s death.

In July 2025, investigators ruled that Mr. Sperbeck’s fall was an accident and that Mr. Elway would not face criminal charges because “nothing criminal happened.”

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told 9News, “It’s over. We’ve talked to everyone involved and we haven’t found anything new.” We have always said there was nothing criminal and this was a tragic accident. ”

Bianco added that authorities carefully and repeatedly watched surveillance video of the accident before determining that Elway was not responsible.

“I’ve watched the video 100 times and I can’t explain why he fell,” Bianco said. “He just fell off.”