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http://nflblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2009/03/a-playing-and-coaching-legacy.html
A playing and coaching legacy for Ken Norton
12:07 PM Wed, Mar 11, 2009 Rick Gosselin
Ken Norton achieved the unprecedented as an NFL player -- winning three consecutive Super Bowls with Dallas (1992-93) and San Francisco (1994). He's also setting precedents as a coach.
Norton is the linebacker coach at Southern Cal and sent four of his players to the NFL combine: middle backer Rey Maualuga and outside backers Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews Jr. All hope to join another Norton prodigy, Keith Rivers, as a first-round draft pick and eventually join another North prodigy, Lofa Tatupu, as a Pro Bowler.
A former Pro Bowl linebacker himself, the 41-year-old Norton viewed coaching as the logical next step in his football career.
"I really enjoyed being a player," Norton said. "Obviously if I still can't play, this no question was the next best thing. I'm really still playing through them. It allows me to play forever. I had my career -- now I'm playing through them. I'm teaching them the things that I did. When I watch them play, I see some of my mannerisms, so I'm actually still playing. I can just go on and on. Lofa's even wearing my number up in Seattle...so I'm still going."
A playing and coaching legacy for Ken Norton
12:07 PM Wed, Mar 11, 2009 Rick Gosselin
Ken Norton achieved the unprecedented as an NFL player -- winning three consecutive Super Bowls with Dallas (1992-93) and San Francisco (1994). He's also setting precedents as a coach.
Norton is the linebacker coach at Southern Cal and sent four of his players to the NFL combine: middle backer Rey Maualuga and outside backers Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews Jr. All hope to join another Norton prodigy, Keith Rivers, as a first-round draft pick and eventually join another North prodigy, Lofa Tatupu, as a Pro Bowler.
A former Pro Bowl linebacker himself, the 41-year-old Norton viewed coaching as the logical next step in his football career.
"I really enjoyed being a player," Norton said. "Obviously if I still can't play, this no question was the next best thing. I'm really still playing through them. It allows me to play forever. I had my career -- now I'm playing through them. I'm teaching them the things that I did. When I watch them play, I see some of my mannerisms, so I'm actually still playing. I can just go on and on. Lofa's even wearing my number up in Seattle...so I'm still going."
