Bear Bryant Award Returns in EA SPORTS College Football 27, Supporting Heart Health Awareness

The American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Award will be included in EA SPORTS College Football 27, marking the second consecutive year the coaching honor appears in the popular video game franchise. The award, which recognizes the National Coach of the Year, joins other prestigious in-game awards such as the Heisman Trophy, Lou Groza Award, and Lombardi Award.

The decision to keep the Bryant Award in the game builds on the growing partnership between the American Heart Association and EA SPORTS. “The continued inclusion of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award in one of the most celebrated video game franchises in history is another step in the efforts by the American Heart Association... to celebrate college football coaches who embody his legacy and principles of excellence,” the organization stated.

Now in their 41st year, the American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards also present the Heart of a Champion Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Newcomer Coach of the Year Award, and Conference Coach of the Year Awards. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti was the 2025 Coach of the Year, and the 2026 winner will be announced at a ceremony in Houston, Texas, on January 27, 2027. This award is the only college football coaching honor selected after the national champion has been determined, with voting conducted by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA coaches, former winners, and the Bryant family.

The partnership carries significant implications for heart health awareness. Coach Bryant passed away from a heart attack on January 26, 1983—just under one month after coaching his final game. After his passing, the Bryant family and the American Heart Association collaborated to keep his legacy alive, raise funds for lifesaving scientific research, and drive greater awareness of the risks surrounding heart disease and stroke, the nation’s leading killers.

For Texas businesses and the broader sports community, the inclusion of the award in EA SPORTS College Football 27 amplifies the reach of the American Heart Association’s mission to millions of gamers. The game’s Dynasty Mode allows players to compete for the Bryant Award, engaging a new generation in the legacy of Coach Bryant while promoting heart health education. The American Heart Association, a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, funds groundbreaking research and provides critical resources to save lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.

EA SPORTS College Football 27 is set for release on Monday, July 9. For more information on the American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, visit www.bryantawards.org.