The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award will again be featured in EA SPORTS College Football 27's Dynasty Mode, marking the second consecutive year the award appears in the popular video game franchise. The announcement, made by the American Heart Association, underscores the ongoing partnership between the organization and EA SPORTS to celebrate college football coaching excellence and promote heart health awareness.
Last year's release saw the Bryant Award join other prestigious honors such as the Heisman Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Lombardi Award, Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Broyles Award within the game. The continued inclusion aims to engage fans and honor the legacy of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who passed away from a heart attack in 1983. The American Heart Association, a beneficiary of the awards, uses the platform to drive awareness of heart disease and stroke, the nation's leading killers.
Now in their 41st year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards include multiple categories: the individual 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. The 2025 winner was Indiana's Curt Cignetti, and the 2026 recipient will be announced at a ceremony in Houston, Texas, on January 27, 2027. Voting is conducted by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA 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 storied career began in Fordyce, Arkansas, and included head coaching stints at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Alabama, where he won six national championships and 14 SEC titles. His legacy continues through the Bryant family and the American Heart Association, which collaborates to raise funds for lifesaving scientific research. The Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards serve as a key initiative in these efforts.
EA SPORTS College Football 27 is set for release on July 9, 2026. Fans can learn more about the awards at www.bryantawards.org. The partnership between EA SPORTS and the American Heart Association highlights the intersection of sports entertainment and public health, using the reach of video gaming to promote important health messages while honoring a legendary coach.
