Ken Norton Jr. hired as Raiders defensive coordinator

The Seahawks' success over the last three years, particularly on defense, has had one predictable consequence: loss of coaches on that side of the ball to promotions elsewhere. Seattle's staff continues to get pillaged by teams looking to capture some of that prosperity, and after losing Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn and assistant offensive line coach Marquand Manuel to Atlanta, linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. will head to Oakland to become their next defensive coordinator, reports Vic Tafur.

Congrats ken norton! Was a pleasure playing for you!

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) February 6, 2015

I'm sad and love ken norton but players play and coaches coach we will be fine!

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) February 6, 2015

Norton has been with the Seahawks since 2010, and previous to that, he was Pete Carroll's assistant head coach and linebackers coach at USC from 2004-2009. It will be a strange breakup I suppose for Carroll and Norton, who have been coaching together the past decade. Norton has a history with Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio, as the two played together with the Cowboys from 1989-1991.

Norton has a great reputation as a motivator and as an inspirational leader, so now he'll try his hand at the Xs and Os part of the job a little bit more. Best of luck to Norton in Oakland.

Update:

Ken Norton, Jr. talks about leaving Seattle, heading to Oakland | Seahawks Blog | Seattle Times
Here are some highlights of what transcript of Ken Norton, Jr.’s interview with local reporters after it was announced today he was leaving the Seahawks and becoming Oakland’s defensive coordinator: