Report: Raiders hire Tony Sparano as Oline coach/asst head coach

Tony Sparano is widely considered one of the best overall coaches in the NFL. He made a name for himself as an offensive line coach and his success at the position earned him a head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.

He was in over his head as a head coach and as an offensive coordinator, but players like him, and he can do good things as an offensive line coach. He was fired as the Jets offensive coordinator this offseason and was never really given any serious consideration to get another OC job in the NFL. He is destined to be an offensive line coach where he has had great success over the past decade in the NFL.

He was brought in as the offensive line coach for the Cowboys by Bill Parcells. The offense immediately improved from next to worst in the NFL to middle of the pack and improved each and every season he was in Dallas, finishing second in the NFL by his final season there.

Parcells then moved on to become the executive vice president of football operations for the Dolphins and he brought his former assistant head coach over to be the Dolphins next head coach. In his first season there he took a 1-15 team to 11-5. He did it by re-introducing the wildcat to the NFL with unexpected success. He couldn't crack .500 in the two seasons that followed and was fired after a 4-12 season in 2011.

He lasted just one season as the OC for the Jets before being fired. Andy Reid had interviewed him to be his offensive line coach with the Chiefs but they went with Reid's namesake, Andy Heck instead.

The Raiders have not confirmed the hire. The coaching staff is currently in Mobile Alabama for the Senior Bowl which makes it a bit surprising they were able to get this done this week. I would assume, if the deal is done, Sparano would join them in Mobile immediately.

This leaves just one hire yet to be made. That of linebackers coach.

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