You never knew what Tony Sparano was thinking during that 2012 season, and that was probably a good thing.

In the midst of the Jets’ 6-10 nightmare that season, he never pointed any fingers at his players or at head coach Rex Ryan, who was taking plenty of heat from everywhere else.

Sparano was the Jets offensive coordinator, replacing Brian Schottenheimer. It would be his only season with the Jets when he instituted the Wildcat offense that was supposed to return the “Ground and Pound” approach.

But the quarterback room of Greg McElroy, Mark Sanchez, Matt Simms and Tim Tebow didn’t offer much to work with and Sparano had no chance. The Jets ended the year ranked 30th in total offense while losing seven of their last 10 games. Through it all, Sparano remained a good soldier and good coach.

Sparano, 56, died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon. Entering his third season as offensive line coach for the Vikings, Sparano collapsed at his home, according to ESPN, as he and his wife, Jeanette, were preparing to leave for church. Sparano had complained of chest pains and went to a hospital on Thursday, but was released Friday after undergoing tests.

Giants coach Pat Shurmur worked with Sparano in Minnesota under head coach Mike Zimmer.

“We both showed up at the same time,” Shurmur said in a statement. “We were the new guys. We quickly became friends and it didn’t take long for me to realize and respect what a good person and good coach he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeanette and the kids. What a tremendous coach and an even better person. I’m proud to have been his friend.”

Born in West Haven, Conn., on Oct. 7, 1961, Sparano began his NFL coaching career in 1999 as a quality control assistant with the Browns. He worked his way up the ranks until he became an assistant tight ends and offensive line coach with the Cowboys under Bill Parcells from 2003 to 2007.

With Parcells’ blessing, Sparano was hired as the Dolphins head coach in 2008 after the team had gone 1-15 the previous season. The Dolphins won the AFC East with an 11-5 record — the biggest one-season turnaround in NFL history — and reached the playoffs using what came to be known as the “Wildcat offense” in which running backs took snaps from center.

In Week 3 of that season, the Dolphins surprised the favored Patriots with the unusual formation and earned a 38-13 victory. It snapped the Patriots’ 21-game winning streak.

Sparano was fired by Miami with three games left in the 2011 season. He served as interim head coach in Oakland in 2014. He also worked with Washington, Jacksonville and San Francisco.

“I am at a loss for words with Tony’s sudden passing,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said. “Tony loved the game of football and his players. More importantly, he was a strong man of faith who treasured his family. My heart is with the Sparanos today. As an organization we will support them in whatever ways we can.”

Zimmer had coached with Sparano on Parcells’ staff in Dallas.

“He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker, and had a toughness and a fighting spirit that showed in our linemen,” Zimmer said. “He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us, but Tony will be sorely missed by all.”