The American Heart Association has announced the 28 football coaches named to the 2026 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, according to a release distributed via NEWMEDIAWIRE. The award, given each January, honors a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans by demonstrating grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life both on and off the field. It is the only college football coaching honor given after the National Champion has been determined.
The watch list, finalists, and ultimate recipient are voted on by the National Sports Media Association and the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team, which includes members of the Bryant family and community leaders. The 2026 list features coaches from programs across the country, including David Braun of Northwestern, Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Ryan Day of Ohio State, Kalen DeBoer of Alabama, Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame, Kirby Smart of Georgia, Steve Sarkisian of Texas, and Lincoln Riley of USC, among others.
The awards carry significance beyond the gridiron. The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, honor Coach Bryant’s legacy, and raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The legendary coach died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. Since the awards’ inception, they have united the football community in support of the Association’s lifesaving work.
In addition to the national honor, the program will present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each Power Four conference—the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, and Southeastern Conference—and one from the combined Group of Six conferences and Independent teams. The National Coach of the Year Award is one of five honors presented annually during the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Ceremony, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas. The 41st annual ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, 2027, and will air on CBS Sports Network.
Bruce Arians, a Super Bowl-winning NFL coach and former college head coach, has been selected as the Heart of a Champion Award winner, while Jackie Sherrill, a two-time NCAA national championship head coach, has been named the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The Fan Favorite and Newcomer Coach of the Year Awards will be announced live at the show.
For those interested in the awards, more information is available at bryantawards.org. The American Heart Association, which has been a leading source of health information for more than a century, continues to fund groundbreaking research and advocate for public health through initiatives detailed at heart.org and stroke.org.
The announcement matters because it spotlights the intersection of sports and health. By honoring coaches who exemplify leadership and integrity, the awards also draw attention to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. The watch list generates conversation among fans and media, while the ceremony raises funds for research and education. For the coaches named, inclusion is a notable recognition of their impact on and off the field. For the public, it serves as a reminder of the importance of heart health and the legacy of a coaching icon whose life was cut short by a heart attack.
