Former Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer to Receive 2026 Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award in Houston

The American Heart Association has selected Phillip Fulmer, the former University of Tennessee head coach who led the Volunteers to two Southeastern Conference championships and the inaugural BCS National Championship, as the recipient of its 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor recognizes college football's finest coaches for outstanding achievements and extraordinary contributions throughout their careers. 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, which 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 that recognizing legendary careers of outstanding coaches honors the memory and achievements of Paul "Bear" Bryant while supporting the Association's work to better diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors coaches for outstanding career accomplishments both on and off the football field, now in its 27th year. The award 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 character, integrity, and sportsmanship of young people; and inspiration and instruction in developing game skills and physical fitness in players. Fulmer expressed his honor at receiving the award, noting his lifelong admiration for Coach Bryant and appreciation for the American Heart Association's work.

Fulmer joins a distinguished list of college football coaching greats including recent recipients Grant Teaff (2025), Lloyd Carr (2024), Bob Stoops (2023), John Robinson (2022), Howard Schellenberger (2021), Bill Snyder (2020) and Frank Beamer (2019). As one of the most distinguished coaches in Southeastern Conference history, Fulmer took over as Tennessee's head coach in 1992 and compiled a 152-52 record over 17 seasons. His Volunteers won SEC titles in 1997 and 1998, with the perfect 1998 campaign culminating in the inaugural BCS National Championship after beating Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.

During his 17 seasons leading the Tennessee program, the Volunteers posted nine seasons with 10 or more wins and maintained an impressive 88-19 record at Neyland Stadium. More than 90 of Fulmer's former players eventually played in the National Football League, 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-America. A former Tennessee offensive lineman himself from 1969-71, Fulmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. The Lifetime Achievement Award is one of five honors presented annually during the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Ceremony, with additional awards for Heart of a Champion, Fan Favorite, Newcomer Coach of the Year, and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year.