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NFL great John Elway is strugglng to come to terms with the loss of his close friend and agent, Jeff Sperbeck.
The Denver Broncos legend Elway, a two-time Super Bowl winner, was driving the golf cart that the 62-year-old Sperbeck fell from, sustaining a fatal head injury at a luxury golf course in California in April.
Earlier this week, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office ruled that Sperbeck's death was an accident and that Elway will not face any criminal charges. The tragic incident occurred at the exclusive, members-only golf course in La Quinta.
And now, a source close to Elway has revealed that the 65-year-old is in a dark place three months on from his friend's death.
'John is not coping well with the loss and the accident. He has been really upset and withdrawn,' a source was quoted as saying to Page Six.
'He is very down. He is not his upbeat, usual self.'
John Elway (left) is struggling after the death of his longtime agent and friend Jeff Sperbeck
Sperbeck is seen with his son, Jackson (left) and daughter Sam in a family photo
The publication added that the source says Elway, usually a 'man about town', is 'no longer social' since the incident.
A lawyer for Elway told Page Six about the ruling clearing him of any criminal wrongdoing: 'This has been a terrible situation for everybody. We always knew that John had done nothing wrong, however, that does not lessen the sadness.'
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco spoke to 9News in Denver about the ruling that Sperbeck's death was an accident, saying: 'I’ve looked at video 100 times and there’s no explanation as to why he fell off, he just fell off.
'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.'
Sperbeck had been Elway's agent since 1990 and the two had collaborated on business ventures outside of football, too.
At the time of his death, Elway said in a statement: 'I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck.
'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.
'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.
Elway pictured with his wife Paige, who was also present at the time of the accident
'Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.'
During his time in the NFL, quarterback Elway spent the entirety of his 16-year career with the Broncos, retiring from the sport in 1999.
He went out on a high, calling it a day after winning back-to-back Super Bowls.
Elway and the Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and followed it up 12 months later with victory against Atlanta Falcons.
