Ken Norton Jr. leaving 49ers after just one week for DC job

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Just one week after Ken Norton Jr. returned to the 49ers, he is reportedly leaving to rejoin Pete Carroll's staff with the Seattle Seahawks.

Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the 49ers have given Norton permission to leave his staff after being named assistant head coach -- defense/inside linebackers last Monday. Norton has accepted a job to return to the Seahawks as defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.

"Last week, Ken was presented with an opportunity to once again coordinate a defense. Because of how we feel about Ken as a coach, we understand and respect his desire to pursue the position," Shanahan said in a statement provided to NBC Sports Bay Area.

Norton coached Seattle linebackers from 2010 to 2014. He spent 2 1/2 seasons as Raiders defensive coordinator before then-coach Jack Del Rio fired him on Nov. 21. Norton's return to the Seahawks after just one week on the 49ers' staff was first reported by the NFL Network and KING 5 News in Seattle.

Norton sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area last week to discuss his relationship with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and shared his thoughts on young linebacker Reuben Foster. Saleh worked under Norton as a quality control coach during their time together with the Seahawks.

Norton won a Super Bowl as a player with the 49ers in his first season after signing as a free agent in 1994. He won Super Bowls the two previous seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Norton also won a Super Bowl as a member of the Seahawks coaching staff.

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