The American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Award will once again be featured in EA SPORTS College Football 27, allowing players to earn the National Coach of the Year honor in the game’s Dynasty Mode. This marks the second year the award has been included in the popular video game franchise, joining other prestigious accolades such as the Heisman Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Lombardi Award, Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Broyles Award.
The continued inclusion of the award underscores efforts by the American Heart Association to celebrate college football coaches who embody Coach Bryant’s legacy of excellence, leadership, and character. It also serves to engage fans who draw inspiration from his example while raising awareness about heart disease and stroke, the nation’s leading killers. The American Heart Association, a relentless force for longer, healthier lives, uses the award to honor Bryant’s memory and support lifesaving scientific research.
Now in their 41st year, the American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards present multiple honors, including the Heart of a Champion Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Newcomer Coach of the Year Award, and Conference Coach of the Year Awards, alongside the prestigious Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti was the 2025 recipient, and the 2026 winner will be announced at a ceremony in Houston, Texas, on January 27, 2027. The award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA college football coaches, former winners, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant family. Notably, it is the only college football coaching honor selected after the national champion has been determined.
Coach Bryant’s legendary career began in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, and included stints as head coach at the University of Maryland, University of Kentucky, Texas A&M, and ultimately the University of Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide from 1958 through 1982. He amassed 323 wins, six national championships, and 14 SEC championships. After his passing from a heart attack in 1983, the Bryant family partnered with the American Heart Association to keep his legacy alive and drive awareness of cardiovascular disease risks.
EA SPORTS College Football 27 is set for release on July 9, 2026. For more information on the American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, visit www.bryantawards.org.
