Tony Sparano Jr. joined the Jaguars staff as assistant offensive line coach on January 19, 2017 and is in his fourth season in the role. Sparano assists George Warhop in working with the team's offensive line.
In 2019, the Jaguars' offensive line helped RB Leonard Fournette accrue a career-high 1,674 scrimmage yards (1,152 rushing yards and 522 receiving yards), including 50-plus scrimmage yards in all 15 games he played. Fournette's 111.6 scrimmage yards per game ranked fourth in the NFL last season and ranked sixth in Jacksonville's single-season history. The youngest player on the roster in 2019 was 21-year-old OL Jawaan Taylor, who became the first Jaguars rookie to start in all 16 games since OL Maurice Williams in 2001, and was named to the Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team and the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Sparano helped the offensive line protect for QB Gardner Minshew II, who rewrote the franchise's rookie record book in 2019, throwing for more yards (3,271) and TDs (21) than any first-year signal-caller in Jaguars history.
Sparano aided a unit that was beleaguered with injuries during the 2018 season. Despite using seven different starting lineup combinations and four starting left tackles, Sparano's line paved the way for the Jaguars to rush for 100-plus yards in eight games, including 226 on Nov. 25 at Buffalo.
In 2017, the Jaguars offensive line allowed a franchise single-season low 24 sacks and blocked for a league-leading rushing attack that averaged 141.4 rushing yards per game. The offensive line led the way for rookie RBLeonard Fournette to rush for 1,040 yards and nine TDs on 268 carries as Fournette became only the second rookie RB in Jaguars history, and first since Fred Taylorin 1998, to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards. Overall, the Jaguars finished the year rushing for 2,262 yards and 18 TDs on 527 carries. Aided by the protection of the offensive line, QB Blake Bortles completed a career-high 60.2 percent of his passes and threw for 3,687 yards and 21 TDs.
While serving as the tight ends coach with Buffalo in 2016, Sparano mentored the team's leading receiver, TECharles Clay, as he produced 57 receptions for 552 yards and four TDs, which ranked as the third-best season by a Bills TE in team history. Sparano helped Clay transition seamlessly in 2015 from Miami to Buffalo as he went on to catch 51 receptions for 528 yards and three TDs in his first season with the Bills. In addition to Clay providing the Bills aerial attack with a consistent target, Sparano's TE group helped pave the way for the Bills to have both the top rushing attack in the NFL in yards (2,432) and yards per carry (4.78) in 2015.
Prior to joining the Bills, Sparano spent three seasons with the New York Jets. In 2014 he served as an offensive assistant and from 2012-13 he served as an intern, working with the offense specifically in 2013.
Sparano spent the 2011 season with the Miami Dolphins as an offensive quality control coach. Before entering the NFL ranks, Sparano spent one year in the UFL with the Hartford Colonials as their assistant defensive line coach.
Sparano attended the University of Albany where he was a three-year letterman at defensive end. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three kids, Tony Jr., Gabriella and Mia.
