Former Browns Coach Tony Sparano Dies At 56

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Tony Sparano, the former Cleveland Browns offensive line coach, passed away just a few days before the start of NFL training camps. He was 56.

Sparano was serving as the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings prior to his passing. The team announced his death in a statement on Sunday.

"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."

Sparano's NFL coaching career began in 1999. He spent roughly two years with the Cleveland Browns, as both an offensive quality control coach and offensive line coach. He worked his way through the coach ranks for decades, and eventually served as a head coach for the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.

After a few bad seasons as a head coach, Sparano returned to the ranks of assistant coaches. He had been the Vikings offensive line coach since 2016.

Sparano was born in West Haven, Connecticut, on Oct. 7, 1961. He played football as a starting center for the University of New Haven and is a member of the New Haven Football Hall of Fame, NFL.com reported.

Sparano was also a coach for the Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, his two sons Tony and Andrew, his daughter, Ryan Leigh, and four grandchildren.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)