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Medical examiner: Tony Sparano died of arteriosclerotic heart disease

ByCOURTNEY CRONIN
July 25, 2018, 4:06 PM

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano died Sunday from arteriosclerotic heart disease, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner. He was 56.

According to reporting by ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Sparano went to a hospital last Thursday after complaining about chest pains and was released Friday after undergoing tests. A source said Sparano's wife, Jeanette, found him unconscious Sunday morning as they prepared to leave for church and could not revive him.

The 19-year NFL veteran coach died at 8:54 a.m. at his home in Eden Prairie.

An assistant with Minnesota for the past two seasons, Sparano worked for nine NFL teams over 19 seasons, with head-coaching stints in Miami (2008-11) and on an interim basis with Oakland (2014). He held positions with Cleveland, Washington, Jacksonville, Dallas, San Francisco and the New York Jets.

The team announced Tuesday that it has canceled Friday's training camp practice because of a memorial service that will be held for Sparano that day.