The American Heart Association's Paul 'Bear' Bryant National Coach of the Year Award will be included in EA SPORTS College Football 27's Dynasty Mode, marking the second consecutive year the award appears in the video game franchise. The announcement, made on July 2, 2026, underscores the ongoing partnership between the American Heart Association and EA SPORTS to celebrate college football coaches who embody Coach Bryant's principles of excellence and leadership.
Last year's release of EA SPORTS College Football 26 marked the first time the Bryant Award joined other prestigious awards in the game, including the Heisman Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Lombardi Award, Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Broyles Award. The continued inclusion of the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award in the franchise aims to engage fans of college football who draw inspiration from Bryant's legacy. The American Heart Association, a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, uses the award to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, the nation's leading killers.
Now in their 41st year, the American Heart Association's Paul 'Bear' Bryant Awards annually present multiple honors, including the Heart of a Champion Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Newcomer Coach of the Year Award, Conference Coach of the Year Awards, and the National Coach of the Year Award. Indiana's Curt Cignetti was the 2025 Coach of the Year, and the 2026 winner will be announced at a ceremony in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, January 27, 2027. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA college football coaches, former winners, the awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant family. Notably, this award is the only college football coaching honor selected after the National Champion has been determined.
Coach Bryant's journey began in 1913 in Moro Bottom, Arkansas. He played for Fordyce High School and the University of Alabama before starting his head coaching career at the University of Maryland in 1945. After successful stints at the University of Kentucky (1946-53) and Texas A&M (1954-57), Bryant took over the Alabama program in 1958 and led the Crimson Tide through the 1982 season. He won 323 games against 85 losses and 17 ties, capturing six national championships, 14 SEC Championships, and one Southwest Conference championship. A three-time American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year and 12-time SEC Coach of the Year, Bryant passed away from a heart attack on January 26, 1983.
After his passing, the Bryant family and the American Heart Association collaborated to keep his legacy alive, raise funds for lifesaving scientific research, and drive awareness of the risks surrounding heart disease and stroke. EA SPORTS College Football 27 will be released on Monday, July 9.
