Bear Bryant Biography

Paul William Bryant, known as Bear Bryant, was an American college football coach and player who lived from 1913 to 1983. He served as head coach of the University of Alabama football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, from 1958 to 1982. Various facilities at the University of Alabama, including the Paul W. Bryant Museum and Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium, are named in his honor. During his senior year in high school, he played offensive line and defensive end, helping his team win the 1930 Arkansas state football championship. He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Alabama in 1931. He played as an end for the Crimson Tide and was part of the 1934 national championship team. He earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference recognition in 1934 and was named to the third team in both 1933 and 1935.