Phillip Fulmer Wins Prestigious Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award

Legendary University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer has been selected as the recipient of the American Heart Association's 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his extraordinary contributions both on and off the football field. The coaching great, who guided the Volunteers to two Southeastern Conference championships and the inaugural BCS National Championship in 1998, will receive the honor during the annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony in Houston, Texas on January 21, 2026. The ceremony, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network and serves to celebrate coaching excellence while raising awareness and critical funds for the American Heart Association's mission to combat heart disease.

The award criteria, determined by the Bryant family and voted on by the National Sports Media Association, focus on three key areas: integrity both on and off the field, leadership and character development in young people, and inspiration in developing players' skills and physical fitness. Fulmer expressed deep honor at receiving an award bearing the name of Coach Bryant, whom he admired throughout his career, while also praising the American Heart Association's vital work. Nancy Brown, American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that recognizing legendary coaching careers honors Bear Bryant's memory while supporting the organization's efforts to better diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease.

Fulmer's coaching legacy includes an impressive 152-52 record over 17 seasons at Tennessee, with nine seasons of 10 or more wins and an outstanding 88-19 home record at Neyland Stadium. His program produced more than 90 NFL players, 70 first-team All-SEC honorees, and 19 first-team All-Americans, including notable players like Peyton Manning and Michael Munoz. The Winchester, Tennessee native, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, joins an elite group of coaching greats who have previously received the Lifetime Achievement Award, including recent recipients Grant Teaff, Lloyd Carr, and Bob Stoops. Fans can follow the Bryant Awards through various social media platforms including facebook.com/bryantawards and twitter.com/bryantawards, with additional information available at bryantawards.org.