Kern County maintains long history of producing professional football talent
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 4:49 PM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026
As the NFL season kicks off, Bakersfield communities are reflecting on the region's history of sending players to the professional level. High school coaches in the area attribute this success to a combination of community support and a competitive work ethic instilled in local athletes. Former players including Frank Gifford, Cody Kessler, Jared Norris, Jordan Love, and Jeff Buckey are cited as notable examples of talent originating from Kern County. Many former professionals have returned to the region to coach at local high schools, such as David Carr and Darren Carr at Bakersfield Christian High School and Michaels Stewart at Bakersfield High School. This cycle of athletes moving to the professional ranks and returning to mentor local youth continues to support the growth of football throughout the 661 area code.
- •Kern County maintains a long-standing tradition of producing NFL players dating back to Frank Gifford.
- •Coaches cite local community support and intense competition as primary drivers for the area's success.
- •David Carr, Darren Carr, and Michaels Stewart are among the former pros now coaching at local high schools.
- •Recent NFL players from the area include Jordan Love, Cody Kessler, and Jared Norris.
- 4:49 PMYahoo Sports — NFL Kickoff: From Kern County to the National Football League
"BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — With the long-awaited return of professional football, 17 News is reminiscing about the pros who came from Kern County and played at the highest level. Hall of Famer and Driller legend Frank Gifford is one of the first names associated with NFL talent conceived in the Central Valley. The New York […]
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 6:03 PMMalik Nabers says decision to play or not play vs. Cowboys will be his
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 5:55 PMGiants have message for Arvell Reese ahead of debut: 'Just be yourself'
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 5:35 PMFor Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs, opener vs. Giants offers opportunity for extra motivation
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 5:28 PMRams PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. 49ers in Week 1
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 5:23 PMFormer NFL player sentenced to 5 years in federal prison over dogfighting operation
NFL•Sep 11, 2026, 5:08 PMLions coach Dan Campbell reflects on 9/11: 'Something you never forget'