At the NFL level, he has previously served as defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks and currently works as the linebackers coach for the Washington Commanders.

Norton is a graduate of Westchester High School in California, where he played as a running back averaging 8.8 yards per carry as a senior.

In 1993, he had to play through a torn biceps injury,[4] but still managed to lead the team in tackles with 159, helping the Cowboys win their second straight Super Bowl.

Norton scored his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXVII, helping to seal a Cowboys victory.

In 1994 when a salary cap was instituted in the NFL, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap, so they allowed talented and productive players like Ken Norton Jr., Darrin Smith, Dixon Edwards, and Robert Jones to leave via free agency, instead of signing them into long-term contracts.

Norton finished his 13 NFL seasons with 12 sacks and 5 interceptions, which he returned for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns (both in the same game against the St. Louis Rams in 1995).

A form of recognition of his continuing work with the USC linebacker corps, he has developed three consecutive Rose Bowl MVPs: Brian Cushing (2007), Rey Maualuga (2008) and Kaluka Maiava (2009).

[5] Attending the player evaluations of the by-invitation-only 2009 NFL Scouting Combine were all four of Norton's Trojan senior class linebacker protégés: Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava, Clay Matthews III, and Rey Maualuga.

[7] Norton was instrumental in the development of the Seattle Seahawks star linebacker group consisting of All-Pro Bobby Wagner, Pro Bowler K.J.

Wright, Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith, special teams captain Heath Farwell, veteran Leroy Hill and pass rush specialist Bruce Irvin.

Under Norton's tutelage, outside linebacker Khalil Mack won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award at the end of the 2016 season.

He was fired by head coach Jack Del Rio on November 21, 2017, two days after the Raiders suffered a blowout 33-8 loss to the New England Patriots and the defense having not intercepted a pass in 11 weeks.