Tag: Ken Norton Jr.

Bobby Wagner reveals former Washington linebacker London Fletcher was a mentor

Wagner reveals the impact London Fletcher had on his career.

When Bobby Wagner was introduced to the media last week after signing a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, he made it clear why this was the spot for him.

“I think DQ (Dan Quinn) does an amazing job of just putting all the players in the right positions and, you know, getting the best out of everybody,” he said. “Nort’s (LB coach Ken Norton Jr.) one of my favorite coaches of all time, so that was enough for me.”

Quinn coached Wagner early in his career with Seattle for two seasons and had tried to sign Wagner in each of the last two offseasons when he was the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

Norton was Wagner’s linebacker coach for his first three NFL seasons and his defensive coordinator for four seasons. But another person important to Wagner led him to Washington: London Fletcher.

Fletcher enjoyed a 16-year NFL career that ended after the 2013 season. His final seven seasons came in Washington. Wagner’s first two NFL seasons were Fletcher’s final two in the league.

“I’ve been a huge fan of London Fletcher and actually somebody I was able to meet last year in person,” Wagner said. “And he’s been a huge help in my career. I reached out to him one time, and he offered some advice. So, just understanding there has been great linebacker here and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Fletcher is now a member of Washington’s broadcast team, so there will be plenty of opportunities for the pair to catch up this season.

Fletcher has been on the Hall of Fame ballot in recent years but continues to fall short.

Might a 9-time Pro Bowler be an option for the Commanders?

Bobby Wagner isn’t returning to Seattle, making the Commanders a possibility for the future Hall of Famer.

News broke Sunday that a 9-time Pro Bowler and 6-time All-Pro linebacker is not returning to his team.

Bobby Wagner is reportedly going to test the free agent market, not returning to his longtime NFL home, the Seattle Seahawks. Wagner played one season with the Rams, and his other 11 NFL seasons were spent in Seattle.

Wagner is now an age-33 linebacker. Consequently, this Washington ownership group would wisely not invest in a long-term deal with a veteran such as Wagner. However, one can imagine the Commanders pursuing Wagner for a short-term reunion.

That is, a reunion with new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and new linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. Wagner played for Quinn while Quinn served as the Seahawks defensive coordinator in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Norton coached the linebackers during the 2010-2014 seasons. Following his three seasons as the Raiders defensive coordinator, Norton returned to the Seahawks as their defensive coordinator for the 2018-2021 seasons, all of which saw Wagner earn Pro Bowl honors with Seattle.

It is no secret the Commanders have been weak at linebacker and signing Wagner for the short-term could provide the defense leadership and also a younger, drafted linebacker a mentor as well.

Should the Commanders choose to pursue a younger linebacker, such as the Ravens’ Patrick Queen, they would attempt to sign him on a longer-term deal, seeing that Queen will only turn 25 in August.

Commanders fill the last spot of Dan Quinn’s initial coaching staff

Dan Quinn’s coaching staff is complete.

Dan Quinn wanted one final coach, and he got him on Tuesday.

The Commanders head coach, in his first season, has added what the team announced is the last coach for this inaugural season of Quinn’s in Washington.

After serving as the Seahawks linebacker coach since 2018, Glenn now becomes a Commanders coach for Quinn, serving as the assistant special teams coach. Quinn leaves Seattle as one of 14 members of Pete Carroll’s 2023 staff who have relocated to other NFL teams. Carroll was fired after the completion of the 2023 season.

The connection here is that Quinn was the Seahawks defensive coordinator during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Glenn was employed by the Seahawks as well during those seasons, getting started in Seattle in 2012.

Also on that Seahawks staff those two seasons under Quinn was Ken Norton Jr, the linebackers coach. Norton has joined Quinn in Washington and will be the Commanders linebackers coach.

Also joining Quinn from Seattle is Larry Izzo who had served as the Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator during the 2018-2023 NFL seasons.

Spending his last 12 NFL seasons on the Pete Carroll Seahawks staff, Glenn also coached in the state of Washington with the Huskies as a quality control coach in 2010 and 2011. Prior to the University of Washington, Glenn was a linebackers coach for North Carolina Wesleyan College from 2006-08.

Glenn is married to his wife, Leigh, and they have three sons: Nate, Luke, and Will.

Here is the Commanders’ coaching staff for 2024

Introducing Washington’s 2024 coaching staff.

The Washington Commanders appear close to having a full coaching staff. New head coach Dan Quinn has assembled an impressive coaching staff over the past two weeks, adding three more names on Wednesday.

Washington hired Anthony Lynn, the former Chargers head coach and current 49ers assistant head coach and running backs coach, to coach running backs and lead the running game. Additionally, the Commanders hired Tom Donatell (defensive backs) and Darryl Tapp (defensive line) to complete the staff.

From all indications, everyone around the NFL believes Quinn has hired an elite staff. Washington hired two former head coaches and three former coordinators (four, if you count special teams coach Larry Izzo). There were concerns about some positions, and the Commanders alleviated those concerns by layering them with another tremendous hire.

Washington returns four coaches from last season’s staff, including franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan.

Here is the Commanders’ 2024 coaching staff.

Note: We will add anyone Washington announces that isn’t on this list.

Commanders hire Darryl Tapp as defensive line coach

The Commanders hire Darryl Tapp away from the 49ers as defensive line coach.

The Washington Commanders made another impressive hire for new head coach Dan Quinn’s coaching staff on Wednesday. After hiring Anthony Lynn away from the San Francisco 49ers, Washington returned to San Francisco, hiring its assistant defensive line coach, Darryl Tapp, as the Commanders’ new defensive line coach.

Tapp, 39, had a Hall of Fame college career at Virginia Tech before entering the NFL as a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. He would enjoy a 12-year NFL career, including a stop with Washington in 2013. He last played in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He quickly began his coaching career in 2018 as a defensive quality control coach at Central Michigan. In 2019, Tapp moved to Vanderbilt and was the quality control/special teams coach before returning to Virginia Tech in 2020 as the co-defensive line coach.

Tapp’s coaching ascent continued in 2021 when he joined the 49ers as an assistant defensive line coach. He served under then-defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans (his former teammate with the Eagles) and respected defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

The Commanders’ coaching staff is nearly complete. Washington had two positions open on the defensive staff Wednesday before hiring Tom Donatell as defensive backs coach and Tapp as defensive line coach. Earlier this week, the Commanders hired Ken Norton Jr. as linebackers coach.

Washington also hired Sharrif Floyd as assistant defensive line coach and franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan returns as a pass rush specialist/assistant linebackers coach.

5 things to know about new Commanders LB coach Ken Norton Jr.

Here are five things to know about new Commanders LB coach Ken Norton Jr.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris said one of new head coach Dan Quinn’s strengths was his ability to assemble a staff of quality people. Over two weeks into Quinn’s tenure, that statement rings true.

Shortly after Quinn’s hiring, the Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury (offensive coordinator) and Joe Whitt Jr. (defensive coordinator). While Kingsbury had some issues as Arizona’s head coach, he should thrive focusing only on the offense.

Whitt, a first-time coordinator with outstanding credentials, was more than ready for this opportunity. He’s worked with Quinn since 2020.

Another big-time hire for Quinn is linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. A veteran NFL player and coach, Norton is widely respected across college football and the NFL. He is a two-time NFL defensive coordinator, bringing plenty of experience to Quinn’s staff.

Here are five things to know about Washington’s new linebackers coach.

Ken Norton Jr. leaves UCLA for Commanders position

Ken Norton Jr. leaves UCLA for the Washington Commanders LBs coaching job.

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.

Norton becomes the first coach to leave following the hire of Foster, and it will be interesting to see if others do the same.

Commanders hire Ken Norton Jr. as linebacker coach

A three-time Super Bowl champion as a player, Norton has been an NFL defensive coordinator for seven seasons.

Dan Quinn has found his linebackers coach. Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Washington Commanders are hiring former Pro Bowl linebacker and veteran NFL assistant Ken Norton Jr. as their new linebackers coach.

Norton, 57, enjoyed a 13-year playing career that ended in 2000. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, where he played the remainder of his career.

Norton was a part of three Super Bowl champions, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, a one-time first-team All-Pro and a one-time second-team All-Pro selection. Norton played 191 games with 188 starts, finishing with 1,272 tackles.

Norton began his coaching career with the USC Trojans in 2004 as the linebackers coach and won a national championship.

Here’s a look at each stop of Norton’s coaching career:

  • USC Trojans (2004-08): Linebackers coach
  • USC Trojans (2009): Assistant head coach & linebackers coach
  • Seattle Seahawks (2010-14): Linebackers coach
  • Oakland Raiders (2015-17): Defensive coordinator
  • Seattle Seahawks (2018-21): Defensive coordinator
  • UCLA Bruins (2022-23): Linebackers coach

Norton, the son of former World Champion boxer Ken Norton, played collegiately at UCLA and, in addition to winning three Super Bowls as a player, won one as an assistant with the Seahawks.

Norton’s addition follows John Pagano’s hiring as a senior defensive assistant, giving new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. several experienced voices on defense.

The Commanders have yet to officially hire a defensive line coach and secondary coach.

UCLA coaching search: Ken Norton Jr. could be good internal candidate

UCA assistant Ken Norton Jr. is one name to consider amid the coaching search.

The UCLA Bruins can go in a lot of different directions with this head coaching search. One internal candidate is linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr., who was a successful NFL linebacker and also spent time as an assistant on Pete Carroll’s staff with the Seattle Seahawks.

Norton’s name isn’t one that has been mentioned much so far in the coaching search. However, hiring an internal candidate could bode well for the current roster construction.

Chris Vannini of The Athletic mentioned Norton as a candidate (subscription required):

UCLA linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. could be an internal option. The L.A. native and former UCLA player was an assistant during USC’s dynasty days in the mid-2000s before following Pete Carroll to the NFL. The 57-year-old returned to college football in 2022 to coach at his alma mater.

Some UCLA fans also advocated for Norton to replace Kelly even before he left for Ohio State, and this is a name Martin Jarmond should at least consider for the job.

Pete Carroll admits Seahawks have been ‘a little bit arrogant’ on defense

The same could be said for the Seahawks defense over the last several years.

“Peace has cost you your strength. Victory has defeated you.”

So Tom Hardy’s Bane informed Patrick Bateman’s Batman in 2012’s ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ not long before breaking his back. The same could be said for the Seahawks defense over the last several years.

From 2012-2015 Seattle had the top defensive unit in the sport – ranking No. 1 in points allowed all four years and also top-five in DVOA. That proud group began to come apart beginning with the playoff loss to Carolina and it’s been a long fall since, but now the Seahawks officially have a below-average defense in all the ways that matter.

Head coach Pete Carroll offered up a telling quote yesterday at the 2022 NFL Combine that illustrates what’s happened, admitting that his team has been a bit arrogant over the years with the way they play defense.

This is exactly right and it’s very encouraging that Carroll is willing to admit it and change course.

For a long time, Seattle’s heavy cover 3 scheme was the envy of the entire league, but even with the most talented defensive personnel in football any scheme that becomes stale can be taken advantage of. It’s been several years since the Seahawks were elite in the talent department here, so it’s all the more important to embrace a necessary change. Losses to teams starting Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Ben Roethlisberger and Taylor Heinicke at QB this past season is all the evidence you should need.

New defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt and associate head coach Sean Desai will be tasked with coming up with a gameplan every week that’s more aggressive and variable than the ones we’d come to expect from Ken Norton Jr. and Kris Richard before him.

To his credit, Norton started making some significant changes just after the Week 5 loss to the Rams – namely less zone, more varied looks (including two high safeties), and more disguising coverages. He didn’t go far enough though, which was part of the reason Seattle wound up ranked No. 21 in DVOA last year.

Carroll’s admission that his defense needed to change should be exciting for every fan who wants to see this team finally get back to performing at an elite level on this side of the ball.

If only Pete would have a similar revelation on offense and embrace a more analytics-friendly-let-Russell-Wilson-loose kind of attack then the Seahawks would really be cooking with gas.

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