Bear Bryant Award Returns to EA Sports College Football 27

The legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant Award is set to return in EA SPORTS College Football 27, continuing its inclusion in the beloved video game franchise. Fans playing Dynasty Mode will again compete to win the American Heart Association's Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as National Coach of the Year. This marks the second consecutive year the award appears in the game, joining other prestigious honors like the Heisman Trophy and the Lou Groza Award. The American Heart Association, which administers the awards, sees this partnership as a way to celebrate college football coaches who embody Coach Bryant's legacy of excellence and to engage fans inspired by his leadership.

Now in their 41st year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards include multiple honors: the Heart of a Champion Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Newcomer Coach of the Year, Conference Coach of the Year, and the National Coach of the Year. Last year's winner, Indiana's Curt Cignetti, was named the 2025 Coach of the Year, and the 2026 recipient will be announced at a ceremony in Houston on January 27, 2027. The award is uniquely selected after the national champion is determined, with voting by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA coaches, past winners, the Bryant family, and the awards' executive team. The award also supports the American Heart Association's mission to fund lifesaving research and raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, the nation's leading killers.

Coach Bryant's legacy is deeply rooted in college football history. From his early days at Fordyce High School to his legendary tenure at Alabama, he amassed 323 wins, six national championships, and 14 SEC titles. After his death from a heart attack in 1983, the Bryant family and the American Heart Association collaborated to keep his memory alive. EA Sports College Football 27 is scheduled for release on July 9, 2026. For more on the awards, visit www.bryantawards.org.