James Dougan "Jim" Norris began his managerial career with the Detroit Red Wings, team owned by his father James E. Norris. Supported by his father's wealth, he was part of a group of investors that bought the Chicago Black Hawks in 1946.

His father bought his, his brother Bruce Norris' and his partner Arthur Wirtz's shares in the Red Wings in 1952. In exchange, they acquired Bill Tobin's stake in the Black Hawks on September 11, 1952. Following the death of his father on December 4, 1952, he also held stakes in the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers. The Norris family made arrangements that saw Bruce and their sisters Eleanor & Marguerite focus on the Red Wings, whereas he focused on the Black Hawks and the Rangers with Wirtz.

He and Wirtz sold were forced to sell their sizable stakes in the Madison Square Garden Corporation that operated the Rangers, having been found in breach of Federal anti-trust legislation in 1957. Their shares were bought by the Graham-Paige Corporation in 1959.

He was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category in 1962 and he passed away on February 25, 1966.

Family relations
Father: James E. Norris
Brother: Bruce Norris
Sisters: Eleanor Norris & Marguerite Norris