Sparano dead at 56
Ex-Jet OC was head coach of Dolphins and Raiders
Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano, who was the Jets’ offensive coordinator during the 2012 season, died unexpectedly Sunday morning. He was 56 years old.
“Our hearts go out to Jeanette and the entire Sparano family as we all mourn the loss of Tony. Tony was a passionate and driven individual who cared deeply about his family, and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Tony’s presence within the Vikings organization will be deeply missed. We are only thinking of Tony’s family during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that the entire NFL and Vikings family keep the Sparanos in their thoughts,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf released in a statement Sunday afternoon.
Although no official cause of death was given, according to ESPN, Sparano and his wife, Jeanette, were getting ready to leave for church Sunday morning when she found him unconscious in the kitchen and was unable to revive him with CPR. Sparano, who reportedly was experiencing chest pains, went to the hospital Thursday, but was released Friday, the report said.
The West Haven, Conn. native played in college at the University of New Haven and was head coach there from 1994 until 1998. Sparano began his NFL career in 1999 and spent time with nine teams over 19 seasons. Sparano notably served as head coach of the Dolphins from 2008 until 2011 and as interim head coach of the Raiders in 2014. He was 32-41 as a head coach.
Gang Green hired Sparano on Jan. 11, 2012 to be the offensive coordinator under Rex Ryan, signing him on a three-year deal to replace Brian Schottenheimer. The Jets fired him after the team went 6-10 that season, finishing third in the AFC East.
Sparano also held coaching jobs with the Browns, Washington, Jaguars, Cowboys and 49ers. He was hired by the Vikings in 2016.
The late coach also had a connection with new Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, who worked for the Vikings before heading to New York.
“I worked with Tony for the past two years in Minnesota. We both showed up at the same time. We were the new guys. We quickly became friends and it didn’t take long for me to realize and respect what a good person and good coach he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeanette and the kids. What a tremendous coach and an even better person. I’m proud to have been his friend,” Shurmur said in a statement.