Phillip Fulmer Wins 2026 Paul Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award

HOUSTON, Oct. 13, 2025 — Phillip Fulmer, former head coach of the University of Tennessee, has been selected to receive the American Heart Association‘s 2026 Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is presented to outstanding college football coaches in recognition of their remarkable contributions and achievements throughout their careers.

The award ceremony is scheduled for January 21, 2026, and will take place in Houston, Texas. It will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network and is presented by Memorial Hermann Health System.

“Coach Fulmer has touched the lives of countless young people, and we congratulate him on this accomplishment,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Recognizing legendary careers of outstanding coaches honors the memory and achievements of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant.”

Fulmer’s coaching career is celebrated for leading the Volunteers to two Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles and the inaugural BCS National Championship during the 1998 season. He has a remarkable record of 152 wins and 52 losses in 17 seasons.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Fulmer. “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.”

Fulmer joins an elite group of past recipients, including Grant Teaff and Bob Stoops. Having played for the Volunteers from 1969 to 1971, Fulmer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, recognizing his significant impact on college football.

The Lifetime Achievement Award considers criteria set by the Bryant family and the National Sports Media Association, focusing on integrity, character development, and influence both on and off the field.