(Minneapolis, MN) — A county medical examiner says Minnesota Vikings
offensive line coach Tony Sparano died of heart disease.
The Hennepin County medical examiner’s office said Monday that the
56-year-old Sparano died of arteriosclerotic heart disease, or
hardening of the arteries. The manner of death is listed as natural.
Sparano died Sunday in Eden Prairie, a Minneapolis suburb. He had
been the Vikings’ offensive line coach since 2016.
Tony Sparano
Sparano began his NFL coaching career in 1999 and had stints as a
head coach with the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.
He was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2008-11 and went 29-32. He
went 11-5 and won the AFC East in his first season with Miami.
Sparano also spent time with the Browns, Redskins, Jaguars, Cowboys
and 49ers.