The Oakland Raiders have hired one of the toughest linebackers in NFL history.
The Raiders moved quickly to fill out the biggest vacancy on the coaching staff, hiring Ken Norton Jr. to be the team’s defensive coordinator.
The move reunites Norton with Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio. The two men played together in three seasons in Dallas as part of the Cowboys’ linebacker corps.
We’ve always talked about being able to put my time and energy and knowledge together as well as his and really come together and make a winner,” Norton said during a conference call Friday. “I have certain ideas that I have that I know that work. He has certain ideas that he has that he knows that work. We’re going to bring them together and obviously make them the Raider way.”
Norton had spent the previous five seasons working as the linebackers coach in Seattle. Because the Seahawks were still in the playoffs, the Raiders were unable to interview Norton until after the Super Bowl. Even then, Oakland had to seek permission from the Seahawks.