Phillip Fulmer Receives Paul 'Bear' Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award for Coaching Legacy

Phillip Fulmer, the former University of Tennessee head coach who led the Volunteers to two Southeastern Conference championships and the inaugural BCS National Championship, has been selected as the recipient of the American Heart Association's 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor recognizes college football's finest coaches for outstanding career achievements and extraordinary contributions both on and off the field.

The award will be presented on January 21, 2026, during the Association's annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony in Houston, Texas. The event, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate coaching excellence, honor Coach Bryant's legacy, and raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. Coach Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.

Nancy Brown, American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Coach Fulmer has touched the lives of countless young people and we congratulate him on this accomplishment. Recognizing legendary careers of outstanding coaches honors the memory and achievements of Paul 'Bear' Bryant. The funds raised at the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony help the American Heart Association to continue to work to better diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease."

The Lifetime Achievement Award, now in its 27th year, is determined by three criteria established by the Bryant family and voted on by the National Sports Media Association: integrity both on and off the field above reproach; leadership, dedication, and developing the character, integrity, and sportsmanship of young people on and off the football field; and inspiration and instruction in the development of skills of the game and physical fitness in their players.

Fulmer expressed his appreciation for the honor, saying, "I am extremely honored to receive the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award that honors the amazing legacy and accomplishments of Coach Bryant. I followed and admired Coach Bryant from a little guy all through his career, and I am humbled to receive this award that bears his name and those that received the award in the past. I am also appreciative of all the great work the American Heart Association does for our country. It is a fantastic and much needed organization."

Fulmer joins an elite group of college football coaching legends including Grant Teaff (2025), Lloyd Carr (2024), Bob Stoops (2023), John Robinson (2022), Howard Schellenberger (2021), Bill Snyder (2020) and Frank Beamer (2019). His coaching credentials are substantial: taking over as Tennessee's head coach in 1992, Fulmer compiled a 152-52 record over 17 seasons, winning SEC titles in 1997 and 1998. The perfect 1998 campaign culminated in Tennessee capturing the inaugural BCS National Championship after defeating Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.

During his tenure, Tennessee posted nine seasons with 10 or more wins and maintained an impressive 88-19 home record at Neyland Stadium. Fulmer's program produced more than 90 NFL players, with 70 earning first team all-Southeastern Conference honors. He coached two William V. Campbell Trophy winners in Peyton Manning and Michael Munoz, and 19 of his players were named first team all-Americans. A former Tennessee offensive lineman himself from 1969-71, Fulmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

This recognition matters beyond the sports world because it highlights the intersection of athletic excellence and health awareness. The award ceremony serves as a significant fundraising vehicle for the American Heart Association's critical work in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment. Fans can follow the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards and track progress of the awards at facebook.com/bryantawards or twitter.com/bryantawards using the hashtag #BryantAwards. The Lifetime Achievement Award is one of five honors presented during the ceremony, which also includes Heart of a Champion, Fan Favorite, Newcomer Coach of the Year, and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year awards.