The UCLA Bruins football program hired DeShaun Foster as its new head coach on Monday. On that same day, Ken Norton Jr. left for a linebackers coach job with the Washington Commanders, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Norton has a lot of experience, including some time with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, so a return to the NFL isn’t a surprise. Norton also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and spent last year coaching the linebackers at UCLA.
Norton was also linked as a potential internal candidate for the UCLA coaching search, but Foster got the job, much to the approval of fans and players.
The Commanders recently hired Dan Quinn as the head coach, and Chip Kelly’s name floated around as an OC candidate before they hired Kliff Kingsbury.
Former #Raiders and #Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. is joining the #Commanders as their linebackers coach, per sources.
A former All-Pro LB, Norton most recently coached the position at UCLA. Now he reunites with former Seattle colleague Dan Quinn in Washington. pic.twitter.com/ir2MYOgPCH
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024
Norton becomes the first coach to leave following the hire of Foster, and it will be interesting to see if others do the same.