Jeff Sperbeck, the influential and widely-respected NFL agent, died on April 26 in La Quinta, Calif. During his 30-year career, he represented more than 100 players, many of them stars. He was 62 years old. The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau has classified his death as an accident. Ultimately, they ruled blunt force trauma from his fall off the golf cart as the cause of the fatal head injury.
In 1990, Sperbeck found himself in command as manager for NFL icon John Elway. He was important in guiding not only Elway’s professional career, but his long, ramified off-field business interests. In addition to representing Elway, Sperbeck co-founded Sullivan & Sperbeck, a successful sports marketing firm. In 2001, Octagon bought their thriving business lock, stock and barrel. After the acquisition, he ran Octagon’s football practice up until 2009.
In 2009, Sperbeck started The NOVO Agency. As CEO, he passionately advocates in front of players and coaches, both current and retired, for the NFL. His reach was much further than the scope of classic sports management. A big part of that was his role in co-founding 7Cellars, a winery started with fellow Hall of Famer John Elway and winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr. back in 2015.
With that, the investigation into Sperbeck’s death has closed. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco confirmed that as of yet, authorities had turned up no foul play evidence.
“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.” – Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco
Elway said he was heartbroken by the death of his friend and business partner of nearly 30 years. Here he writes movingly about losing his best friend, business partner, and agent, Jeff Sperbeck. “I am shot through with indignation and grief,” he declared. I can only say that I am deeply moved by the unexpected passing of an individual whose life touched me so greatly. Words cannot do justice to the depth of my sorrow.
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