The Washington Commanders announced today they have named Ken Norton Jr. as the team's linebackers coach.Â
Norton Jr. joins the Commanders after recently serving as the linebackers coach for UCLA for the 2022-23 seasons. Norton Jr. brings 12 years of NFL coaching experience to Washinton including nine seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-14, 2018-21), and three with the Las Vegas Raiders (2015-17). Before becoming an NFL coach, Norton Jr. spent six years coaching at USC (2004-09) as a linebackers coach and an assistant head coach in his final season.Â
In 2023, UCLA led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th in the nation in total defense (301.5 yards per game). In addition, the Bruins ranked second in the nation in rushing defense (80.8) and limited opponents to 18.4 points per game which was the 14th-best mark in the country. Â
Prior to UCLA, Norton Jr. was a defensive coordinator for the Seahawks from 2018-2021. During his tenure in Seattle, the Seahawks advanced to the playoffs three times, and he coached multiple Pro Bowl players including cornerback Shaquill Griffin, linebacker Bobby Wagner and safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Adams was named an AP All-Pro in 2020 and Wagner was named an All-Pro each season. Â
With the Raiders, Norton Jr. served as the defensive coordinator that helped the Raiders to a 12win season and a return to the postseason for the first time since 2002. The defensive unit produced the AP Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Khalil Mack and two Pro Bowlers including Mack and safety Reggie Nelson in the 2016 season. Â
In his first stint in Seattle, Norton Jr. claimed his first Super Bowl victory as a coach in Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8. Â
Norton, Jr. spent six seasons coaching linebackers for USC from 2004-09, and defeated Oklahoma to win the 2004 national championship. Notable linebackers that Norton Jr. coached included: Brian Cushing, Jarvis Jones, Clay Matthews and Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Lofa Tatupu, Kaluka Maiava, and Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith.Â
Norton played six seasons (1988-93) with the Dallas Cowboys and seven season with the San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000) after being selected in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was on back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams in 1992 and 1993 making the Pro Bowl in his last season with Dallas. Norton signed with the 49ers the following season and became the first – and still only – player in NFL history to be a member of three straight Super Bowl winning teams when San Francisco won the 1994 title. He was named first team All-Pro in 1995 along with his second Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro in 1993. He earned his third Pro Bowl invite following the 1997 season.
