Phillip Fulmer Receives Prestigious Paul 'Bear' Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award

The American Heart Association has named Phillip Fulmer, the former University of Tennessee head football coach who led the Volunteers to two Southeastern Conference championships and the inaugural BCS National Championship, as the recipient of the 2026 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor recognizes college football's finest coaches for their outstanding career achievements and extraordinary contributions both on and off the field.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented on January 21, 2026, during the Association's annual Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony in Houston, Texas. The event, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate coaching excellence, honor Coach Bryant's legacy, and raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. Coach Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.

Nancy Brown, American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer, stated that recognizing legendary coaching careers honors the memory and achievements of Paul 'Bear' Bryant while supporting the Association's work to better diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease. The funds raised at the ceremony help advance this critical mission. The Lifetime Achievement Award, now in its 27th year, is determined by the Bryant family and voted on by the National Sports Media Association based on three criteria: integrity both on and off the field, leadership and dedication in developing character and sportsmanship in young people, and inspiration in developing players' skills and physical fitness.

Fulmer expressed his honor at receiving the award, noting his lifelong admiration for Coach Bryant and appreciation for the American Heart Association's important work. He joins an elite group of college football coaching greats including Grant Teaff (2025), Lloyd Carr (2024), Bob Stoops (2023), John Robinson (2022), Howard Schellenberger (2021), Bill Snyder (2020) and Frank Beamer (2019).

During his distinguished 17-season tenure as Tennessee's head coach beginning in 1992, Fulmer compiled an impressive 152-52 record. Under his leadership, the Volunteers won SEC championships in 1997 and 1998, with the perfect 1998 campaign culminating in the inaugural BCS National Championship after defeating Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee posted nine seasons with 10 or more wins under Fulmer's guidance and maintained an outstanding 88-19 home record at Neyland Stadium.

Fulmer's coaching legacy extends beyond wins and championships, with more than 90 of his former players advancing to the National Football League and 70 earning first team all-Southeastern Conference honors. He coached two William V. Campbell Trophy winners in Peyton Manning and Michael Munoz, and 19 of his players were named first team all-America. A former Tennessee offensive lineman himself from 1969-71, Fulmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 in recognition of his coaching accomplishments.

The Lifetime Achievement Award represents one of five honors presented annually during the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Awards Ceremony, alongside awards for Heart of a Champion, Fan Favorite, Newcomer Coach of the Year, and the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year. More information about the awards can be found at https://bryantawards.org. The American Heart Association continues its work as a relentless force for longer, healthier lives, funding groundbreaking research and advocating for public health through initiatives like the Bryant Awards that combine sports excellence with health awareness.