ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders found their defensive coordinator Friday, and it’s a familiar face with a history of success.
Ken Norton Jr., owner of four Super Bowl rings including one with the San Francisco 49ers, is the choice of coach Jack Del Rio to run the Raiders’ defense.
Norton, 48, was a teammate of Del Rio’s under Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-91. He has been linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks since 2010 and wasn’t available to be hired until after the Super Bowl.
“Jack and I are old friends from the early Dallas Cowboys days and we’ve kept in contact over the years,” Norton said by conference call. “I’ve been watching his career, he’s been watching my career. We’ve always talked bout being able to put my time and energy and knowledge together as well as his and really come together and make a winner.”
While Seattle was preparing for the Super Bowl, the Raiders offered the job to Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who turned it down and accepted a raise to remain a college coach.
Norton said he interviewed with the Raiders on Monday after receiving permission from Seattle coach Pete Carroll to pursue the position. Norton remained under contract with the Seahawks, who are expected to hire defensive backs coach Kris Richard as their defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn left to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
As a player with the Cowboys from 1988 through 1993 and the 49ers from 1994 through 2000, Norton was known for his fire and passion — traits that have followed him into coaching. As a 49er, Norton once threw rights and lefts at a goal post after scoring a defensive touchdown as a tribute to his father, heavyweight boxer Ken Norton.
Norton is the only player in NFL history to play on Super Bowl winning teams three consecutive years, with Dallas in 1992 and 1993 and with the 49ers in 1994. He added a fourth ring last season as a coach with Seattle.
A first-time coordinator, Norton has never been a play-caller on game day.
“In my early meetings with (Jack), his plan is to continue to groom me and I’ll be making the calls,” Norton said.
Norton will draw heavily on his experience with Seattle and Carroll, which has led the NFL in total defense over the past two seasons.
“You watch our defenses over the last few years, how physical, how smart, how dominant they’ve been up front, out-hitting and out-hustling and doing all these aggressive things,” Norton said. “Jack has a fantastic background with his defense as well . we’re going to sit down in a room and just work it out and make it the Raiders’ philosophy.”
Over the past three seasons under head coach Dennis Allen and defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, the Raiders employed multiple looks and blitzed often to create pressure. Seattle utilized a more fundamental approach, concentrating on winning battles up front and relying heavily on speed and athleticism.
Norton is looking forward to working with Khalil Mack, the Raiders’ top draft pick who enjoyed an excellent rookie season. He cited Mack’s explosion and speed and said, “he’s really a smart player and he loves playing ball. I’ve done really well with young men who have a knack of making plays and really love playing football.”
Like Del Rio, Norton was heavily influenced by Johnson in his approach to football during his time with Dallas.
“He really understood how to get the best out of the players,” Norton said. “He treated everybody differently and he knew how to celebrate everyone’s uniqueness. He made it clear that he loved you when you were making plays. If you weren’t making plays, he was going to get rid of you.”
Norton got into coaching in 2004 at USC and during his time there coached future NFL stars such as Brian Cushing, Clay Mathews and Rey Maualuga. He followed Carroll to Seattle and linebackers under his tutelage include last year’s Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith and starting middle linebacker Bobby Wagner.
In addition to Norton, the Raiders have added Jethro Franklin of the University of Miami as defensive line coach. Miami announced Franklin was leaving to take the Raiders’ job.
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