Bear Bryant

Paul William “Bear” Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football coach who led the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from 1958 to 1982. His Alabama teams won 232 games, six national championships and 13 Southeastern Conference titles, and he finished his career with 323 wins, then the most in major college football history.[1][2]

Early life and playing career

Bryant was born in Moro Bottom, Arkansas. His nickname came from an episode at about age 13, when he agreed to wrestle a bear at a theater promotion. He played end at Alabama from 1933 to 1935, including the 1934 national championship team.[2][1] Some references differ on details of his early life, including his birth year.

Coaching career before Alabama

Bryant became head coach at Maryland in 1945, going 6-2-1. He moved to Kentucky for 1946 to 1953, winning the 1950 SEC title, then to Texas A&M for 1954 to 1957, where the demanding Junction Boys training camp became legendary and the 1956 team won the Southwest Conference title.[2][3]

Alabama dynasty

Bryant returned to Tuscaloosa in 1958 and over 25 seasons won six national championships (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978 and 1979) and 13 SEC titles, with 24 consecutive bowl appearances. Sources differ on a few championship counts depending on the selector, so these years follow the commonly cited list.[1][2] In November 1981 he earned his 315th career win over Auburn, a record at the time.[2] He retired after the 1982 Liberty Bowl with 323 wins.[1]

Death and honors

Bryant died on January 26, 1983, about a month after his last game, and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. The stadium in Tuscaloosa was renamed Bryant-Denny Stadium in 1975, and the United States Postal Service issued a stamp honoring him in 1996.[1][2]

Playing and coaching path

Paul Bryant was born September 11, 1913, in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, and played end at Alabama from 1933 to 1935 on the 1934 national championship team. He coached Maryland (1945), Kentucky (1946-1953), Texas A&M (1954-1957) and Alabama (1958-1982).[4]

Record and titles

He retired with a 323-85-17 record, the most wins by a college head coach at the time, and a 15-12-2 bowl record. He won six national championships at Alabama (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978 and 1979), three of them shared, and 14 SEC titles, one at Kentucky in 1950 and 13 at Alabama. He was three-time AFCA National Coach of the Year (1961, 1971, 1973) and twelve-time SEC Coach of the Year.[4]

Retirement and honors

He retired after the 1982 season with a 21-15 Liberty Bowl win over Illinois and died January 26, 1983, in Tuscaloosa. Denny Stadium was renamed Bryant-Denny Stadium in 1975, he entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Paul W. Bryant Museum opened in 1988.[4]

FAQs

What was Bear Bryant’s record at Alabama? 232 wins, 46 losses and 9 ties from 1958 to 1982.

How did Bear Bryant get his nickname? Reportedly from agreeing to wrestle a bear at a theater promotion as a teenager.

Where is Bear Bryant buried? Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Bear Bryant
2. New World Encyclopedia: Bear Bryant
3. Encyclopedia.com: Paul Bryant
4. Wikipedia: Bear Bryant

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue