NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway was seen in public for the first time since being involved in a golf cart accident that killed his longtime friend and agent, Jeff Sperbeck, in April.
Elway, 65, went golfing with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and a group of friends at the Pebble Beach Resort in Monterey County, California, as evidenced by a picture shared via Instagram by Gretzky, 64, on Monday, July 21.
“Great day at Pebble!,” Gretzky captioned the group photo.
The golf outing came a week after Elway was officially cleared in the investigation into Sperbeck’s death by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
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“Following a thorough investigation into the death of Jeff Sperbeck, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has determined that the incident was a tragic accident with no evidence of criminal activity or intent,” the Office said in a statement on July 14. “Consequently, no criminal charges will be filed at this time, and the case will be documented as an accidental death.
In an interview with Denver’s 9NEWS on July 11, Riverside County Sheriff Jeff Bianco said, “We’ve talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new.”
Bianco added, “I’ve looked at video 100 times and there’s no explanation as to why he fell off, he just fell off.”
Elway was driving a golf cart in La Quinta, California on April 26, when Sperbeck, 62, fell off and suffered blunt force trauma to his head. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead on April 30.
Bianco previously said there was no evidence to suggest that Elway was intoxicated at the time of the crash or that the golf cart showed any signs of malfunction.
Sperbeck began working as Elway’s agent in 1990. Elway played all 16 seasons of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos from 1983 to 1998, winning two Super Bowls with the franchise.
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Elway and Sperbeck became professional partners in 2015 when they launched their wine brand, 7Cellars.
The quarterback issued a statement about Sperbeck’s death on April 30.
“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elway 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.”
He 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.”
