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College Football

1988 NFL Draft · Rd 2 · #41 overall

Ken Norton Jr. UCLA Draft

Ken Norton Jr. was drafted No. 41 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft out of UCLA. 191 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 81 career approximate value

1× All-Pro 3× Pro Bowl

Overall pick
#41
Round
2
Draft class
1988
NFL games
191
Years as starter
12
Career AV
815th at UCLA
Pro Bowls
3
All-Pro
1

The pick

How Ken Norton Jr. came off the board in 1988.

Drafted by

Dallas Cowboys

Rd 2 · #41 overall · NFC East

Full 1988 draft class (333 picks)
Position
Linebacker LB
College
UCLA Big Ten at the draft
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

191 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 81 career approximate value

Games played
191
Seasons as a starter
12
Career approximate value
815th among UCLA picks
AV with the drafting club
3644% of career value
Final season
200012 years after the draft
Accolades
1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl

Around pick 41

Who came off the board on either side of Ken Norton Jr..

#39 Pierce Holt DE · SF Angelo State · 1× Pro Bowl #40 Thurman Thomas RB · BUF Oklahoma State · Hall of Fame · 2× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl #42 Jarvis Williams DB · MIA Florida #43 Vincent Brown LB · NE Mississippi Valley State

UCLA in the 1988 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#14 Gaston Green RB · LAR UCLA · 1× Pro Bowl #46 Flipper Anderson WR · LAR UCLA #98 David Richards G · LAC UCLA #131 Dennis Price DB · LV UCLA #137 James Washington DB · LAR UCLA #222 James Primus RB · ATL UCLA #248 Mel Farr RB · DEN UCLA #254 Paco Craig WR · DET UCLA #317 Ben Hummel LB · DAL UCLA

Other LB picks from UCLA

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#9 Anthony Barr LB · MIN · 2014 UCLA · 4× Pro Bowl #98 Donnie Edwards LB · KC · 1996 UCLA · 1× Pro Bowl #10 Jamir Miller LB · ARI · 1994 UCLA · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl #208 Marvcus Patton LB · BUF · 1990 UCLA #31 Roman Phifer LB · LAR · 1991 UCLA #39 Akeem Ayers LB · TEN · 2011 UCLA

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Ken Norton Jr. in the 1988 NFL Draft

Ken Norton Jr. is a Linebacker out of UCLA selected No. 41 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft. 191 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 81 career approximate value UCLA has produced 180 NFL draft picks since 1980.

Where this data comes from

Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Where was Ken Norton Jr. drafted?

Ken Norton Jr. was selected No. 41 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/ken-norton-jr.

What college did Ken Norton Jr. play for?

Ken Norton Jr. played college football at UCLA in the Big Ten. See every UCLA draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/ucla-bruins.

How did Ken Norton Jr.'s NFL career turn out?

191 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 81 career approximate value Accolades: 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1988/ken-norton-jr.