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 prestigious National Coach of the Year honor in the game’s Dynasty Mode. The announcement, made today by the American Heart Association, extends the inclusion of the award that debuted in last year’s release alongside other major college football honors such as the Heisman Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Lombardi Award, Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Broyles Award.
The continued presence of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award in one of the most celebrated video game franchises underscores efforts by the American Heart Association to celebrate college football coaches who embody Coach Bryant’s legacy and principles of excellence. It also serves to engage fans who draw inspiration from his leadership and character. The award is part of the broader American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, now in their 41st year, which annually present 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 Coach of the Year winners, the Paul “Bear” 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 journey began in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, in 1913. 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), he returned to Alabama in 1958 and led the Crimson Tide through 1982. He amassed 323 wins, 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, Coach Bryant passed away from a heart attack on January 26, 1983.
After his death, the Bryant family and the American Heart Association collaborated to keep his legacy alive, raise funds for lifesaving scientific research, and drive awareness of heart disease and stroke risks. The inclusion of the award in EA SPORTS College Football 27 continues this mission, reaching a broad audience of gamers and football fans. EA Sports College Football 27 will be released on Monday, July 9. For more information on the American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, visit www.bryantawards.org.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force for longer, healthier lives, has been a leading source of health information for over a century. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, it funds research, advocates for public health, and provides resources to combat cardiovascular disease and stroke. The integration of the Bear Bryant Award into a popular video game franchise represents a unique intersection of sports entertainment and public health awareness, potentially inspiring millions of players to learn about heart health while enjoying the game.
