Longtime NFL coach Tony Sparano dead at 56

Courtesy of NFL.com:

Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach and former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano died unexpectedly Sunday, the team announced. He was 56.
"Our hearts go out to Jeanette and the entire Sparano family as we all mourn the loss of Tony," Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement. "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."


Sparano was entering his third season as the Vikings' offensive line coach under Mike Zimmer as part of a 20-year long NFL coaching career that began in 1999 when he was hired as an offensive quality control coach for the new Cleveland Browns franchise.


After several assistant coaching jobs with multiple NFL teams, the Dolphins hired Sparano as their head coach in 2008 following the team's 1-15 campaign. He guided the Dolphins to an 11-5 mark and a first-place finish in the AFC East in 2008, becoming the first coach in NFL history to lead a team to the postseason after a one-win season.
Sparano posted a 29-32 record in his nearly four seasons with the Dolphins.


He served as the Oakland Raiders' interim head coach in 2014 after the team fired Dennis Allen, posting a 3-9 mark.
Sparano was born in West Haven, Connecticut, on Oct. 7, 1961. He was a starting center for the University of New Haven, where he played from 1978-81 and helped the NCAA Division II team achieve its first undefeated season in 1979. He is a member of the New Haven Football Hall of Fame.


After breaking into the collegiate coaching ranks with his alma mater as an offensive line coach from 1984-87, Sparano spent six seasons at Boston University, where he served as an O-line coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator. He then returned to New Haven in 1994 as the team's head coach, posting a 41-14 record over five seasons before joining the Browns' coaching staff.


In addition to the Browns, Dolphins, Raiders and Vikings, Sparano coached with the Redskins, Jaguars, Cowboys, Jets and 49ers during his career.
Sparano is survived by his wife Jeanette, his sons Tony and Andrew, his daughter, Ryan Leigh, and his four grandchildren.

Rip

Much too young.

Bless his family & friends...

Only 56 damn

R.I.P.

[FONT=&quot]Although an official cause of death has yet to be disclosed, a new report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN suggests that Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano was felled by a heart attack.

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[FONT=&quot]According to Mortensen, Sparano went to a hospital with chest pains on Thursday. The hospital released him on Friday after tests were performed.

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[FONT=&quot]On Sunday morning, Sparano’s wife, Jeannette, found him unconscious in the kitchen as they were preparing to leave for church. She performed CPR, but he could not be revived.

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[FONT=&quot]Sparano, 56, coached the Miami Dolphins to an unexpected playoff berth in 2008. He also served as interim head coach of the Raiders.[/FONT]

one day you're here, and the next gone

you just never know

SAD, RIP

How can they miss a problem that severe when "tests are performed."

RIP Tony. Too young. Way too young.

On local radio this morning, they were talking about the "wildcat" days of the 2008 Miami Dolphins and how he outcoached Bill Belicheck for that 1 game. Fun season!!

There was a funny ESPN spoof of the last scene in Sopranos with Sparano when he was with the Cowboys. But I couldn't find it on youtube.

PatsFan1283 said:

There was a funny ESPN spoof of the last scene in Sopranos with Sparano when he was with the Cowboys. But I couldn't find it on youtube.

Click to expand...

was it this one ?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2GikdKGjD2M" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ya pretty good if you saw the Sopranos finale.

RIP Tony