Ken Norton Jr. is a former American football player who played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He was born on September 29, 1966, in Jacksonville, Illinois, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college football.
Norton Jr. was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played for the Cowboys for six seasons, from 1988 to 1993, and was a key member of their defense during their Super Bowl XXVII victory in 1993. Norton Jr. then played for the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons, from 1994 to 1996, and won another Super Bowl with them in 1995.
In 1997, Norton Jr. signed with the Denver Broncos, where he played for four seasons, from 1997 to 2000. He was a part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl XXXII in 1998. Norton Jr. finished his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2000.
Throughout his career, Norton Jr. was known for his toughness and physicality on the field. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and was named First-Team All-Pro in 1995. Norton Jr. finished his career with 732 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and five interceptions.
After retiring from playing, Norton Jr. began his coaching career as a linebackers coach for the University of Southern California (USC) in 2004. He then joined the NFL coaching ranks in 2010 as the linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Norton Jr. was a part of the Seahawks coaching staff that won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
In 2015, Norton Jr. was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. He held that position for three seasons, from 2015 to 2017, before returning to the Seahawks as their defensive coordinator in 2018. Norton Jr. is currently still with the Seahawks in that role.
Overall, Ken Norton Jr. had a successful football career as a player and has continued that success as a coach. He was a key member of multiple Super Bowl-winning teams and was recognized as one of the best linebackers in the NFL during his playing days.
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