National Football League

Vikings hire former Dolphins coach Sparano to lead o-line

Published Jan. 14, 2016 6:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have hired former Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano to supervise their offensive line.

The Vikings made the announcement Thursday, two days after coach Mike Zimmer revealed his decision to fire offensive line coach Jeff Davidson.

Sparano and Zimmer coached together with the Dallas Cowboys under coach Bill Parcells from 2003-06. Sparano was head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2008-11 and had an interim stint running the Oakland Raiders in 2014. This season, Sparano served as tight ends coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

Sparano has been coaching in the NFL for 17 years. The Vikings will be his ninth organization.

Davidson held the role with the Vikings for five seasons.