HOUSTON, Sept. 11, 2026 – Since 1986, when legendary former Penn State coach Joe Paterno became the first recipient of the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award, the Bryant Awards have become one of college football’s most respected honors, celebrating excellence on the sidelines while raising millions of dollars in support of the American Heart Association. Four decades after the inception of the collaboration between the American Heart Association and the family of the college football legend, the annual celebration continues to honor one of the sport’s greatest coaches while preserving a family legacy rooted in service, leadership and heart.
Shortly after coach Bryant’s passing, the Bryant family was approached by the American Heart Association about working together to continue to highlight the legacy of coach Bryant while supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.
The connection was strengthened by the commitment of coach Bryant’s son, Paul Bryant Jr., who became the initiative’s largest early financial supporter and helped provide the foundation necessary to launch what would become one of the Association’s signature fundraising events.
Marc Bryant Tyson, the grandson of the legendary coach, recalls that like many successful traditions, the Bryant Awards began modestly. The earliest ceremonies looked very different than today’s nationally-recognized event. Rather than centering exclusively on the nation’s top coaches, the program often featured prominent keynote speakers – including former President George H.W. Bush – alongside a small group of coaching honorees. As the years passed, the format gradually evolved to place the spotlight where it remains today: on the coaches themselves.
That evolution mirrored the growth of the event. Early Coach of the Year ballots featured only a handful of finalists, and one tradition has remained unchanged since those first ceremonies: coaches must be present to receive the award. Tyson acknowledged that the requirement occasionally meant the eventual winner was not always the consensus choice if another deserving coach was unable to attend, but he said the tradition reinforced the importance of gathering college football’s leaders together each year.
That gathering has provided a number of memories that Tyson remembers fondly, but none more fondly than the 2005 ceremony, when former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown was named the winner.
“That place went nuts,” said Tyson. “He’s such a great guy. It was a really cool night. That was definitely my favorite.”
“Some of the others… there are so many. When (Ed Orgeron) from LSU won, his acceptance speech was fabulous. And of course, when Nick Saban won it in 2020. And then, I’m close friends with Dabo Swinney- three times in four years. Dabo winning it is very special because he played at Alabama, grew up in Birmingham, having those ties. And some of the Lifetime Achievement Award winners; Bo Schembechler winning it was special. Some of those have been really neat.”
In addition to the campaign adding honors such as Lifetime Achievement, Newcomer of the Year, Fan Vote and Heart of a Champion, perhaps the most pivotal change in the operation of the Bryant Awards came in 2010, when the voting calendar was expanded to include the result of the national championship game, ensuring the award reflects the complete season rather than ending before college football crowns its champion.
That decision continues to set the Bryant Awards apart. While many national coaching honors are presented before postseason play concludes, the Bryant Award recognizes the coach whose body of work stands tallest after the final whistle of the season. Tyson believes the adjustment protected the integrity of the award while preserving its reputation as the game’s definitive Coach of the Year honor.
Throughout its history, the event itself has continued to evolve. Tyson fondly remembers earlier ceremonies that gave each finalist an opportunity to address the audience before the winner was announced. Those unscripted moments often produced memorable stories that resonated long after the evening ended, and helped create a connection between the audience and the men leading college football’s biggest programs. With the Bryant Awards ceremony moving to television, the ceremony adopted a more structured format to make the ceremony more friendly for broadcast.
For the Bryant family, the awards have always represented something greater than football. Tyson, one of Coach Bryant’s five grandchildren and his only grandson, said the annual gathering gives the family a rare opportunity to hear new generations of coaches share stories about a man who passed away in 1983. Few families, he noted, are fortunate enough to see a loved one’s legacy celebrated on a national stage decades after their passing.
“It is a huge honor for our family,” said Tyson, explaining that hearing coaches recount personal memories or describe Bear Bryant’s influence helps ensure his grandfather’s impact continues to reach new audiences. Even as college football has changed dramatically, Bryant’s name remains synonymous with leadership, discipline and competitive excellence.
Tyson believes the American Heart Association has played a significant role in preserving that legacy. By keeping the awards in Houston, where the partnership first began, the event has maintained a unique identity while supporting lifesaving cardiovascular research and education. Rather than simply commemorating Coach Bryant’s achievements, the awards have become an extension of the values he represented: commitment, perseverance and service to others.
Coach Bryant’s legacy also extends beyond the football field through the example of his wife, Mary Harmon Bryant. Tyson said his grandmother served as the compassionate counterpart to one of the game’s most demanding coaches. During football season, while Coach Bryant focused on preparing his teams, Mary Harmon Bryant cared deeply for the players, offering encouragement and warmth that balanced the intensity of her husband’s coaching style. Tyson credits her with helping shape the family atmosphere that surrounded Bryant’s programs.
“Every year, I try to get the spouses to stand up,” said Tyson. “The reason is, I saw what my grandmother did. During football season, it is a busy, busy time, and football coaches tend to be a little tough. And so she was kind of the soft side, you know, she babied the players. There would be three or four buses with the team on it, and she would not ride on the bus with my grandfather because nobody would talk on that bus. She would ride on a different bus, and they had a big time on that bus. The players would fight to be on her bus.”
“Maybe the funniest story of his career was when Joe Namath was on the team and he got in a little trouble,” said Tyson. “My grandfather kicked him off the team for two or three weeks, and he was from New York. He didn’t have anywhere to go. So my grandmother let him in her house and he slept in the basement, and my grandfather never knew it until years later. You can picture what kind of mother figure she was. She would sit with the players and have them write letters to their mother. Most people at that age had never written a letter in their life. To this day, some of the players think of her as their mother away from home.”
After 40 years, the event remains true to its original purpose while continuing to evolve with college football. It celebrates coaching excellence, strengthens the American Heart Association’s mission and provides the Bryant family with an enduring opportunity to share the character of a man whose influence still reaches locker rooms, sidelines and communities across the country.
In an era when traditions often give way to change, the Bryant Awards stand as a reminder that the greatest legacies are built not only on victories, but on the lives they continue to inspire. Through the partnership between the Bryant family and the American Heart Association, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s name remains attached to the very best of college football while helping create healthier futures for generations to come.
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