Who Is Bear Bryant? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Bear Bryant, born on September 11, 1913, in Fordyce, Arkansas, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American college football history. His compelling coaching style and success at the University of Alabama, where he served as the head coach for 25 years, contributed to his legendary status. Bryant passed away on January 26, 1983, but his legacy continues to inspire new generations of athletes and coaches.
| Occupation | Football Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 11, 1913 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Moro Bottom, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 26 January, 1983 |
| Died Place | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
Popularity
Bear Bryant's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific height and weight stats for Bear Bryant during his prime are not readily available, he was known for his imposing presence on the field, with a characteristic build that reflected both strength and authority. His distinctive houndstooth hat became a symbol of his coaching prowess and style.
Four weeks after making that comment, and just one day after passing a routine medical checkup, on January 25, 1983, Bryant checked into Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa after experiencing chest pain. A day later, when being prepared for an electrocardiogram, he died after suffering a massive heart attack.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Bear Bryant was married to Mary Harmon Bryant in 1935, and they had three children: a son, a daughter, and another son. His family has played a vital role in preserving his legacy following his passing. While there are no records or speculation around relationships outside of his marriage, his commitment to his family was well recognized during his life.
Bryant was the 11th of 12 children who were born to Wilson Monroe Bryant and Ida Kilgore Bryant in Moro Bottom, Cleveland County, Arkansas. His nickname stemmed from his having agreed to wrestle a captive bear during a carnival promotion when he was 13 years old.
His mother wanted him to be a minister, but Bryant told her "Coaching is a lot like preaching." He attended Fordyce High School, where the 6ft 1in tall Bryant, who as an adult would eventually stand 6ft 4in, began playing on the school's football team as an eighth grader.
During his senior season, Bryant played offensive line and defensive end, and the team won the 1930 Arkansas state football championship.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Bear Bryant's estimated net worth was around $2–3 million, a considerable sum given his era. In 2025, had he remained influential, his worth would likely have grown significantly through various endorsements and media appearances, celebrating his enduring legacy. His coaching career included a substantial salary, which helped him amass his wealth.
In 1962 Bryant filed a libel suit against The Saturday Evening Post for printing an article by Furman Bisher ("College Football Is Going Berserk") that charged him with encouraging his players to engage in brutality in a 1961 game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Six months later, the magazine published "The Story of a College Football Fix" that charged Bryant and Georgia Bulldogs athletic director and ex-coach Wally Butts with conspiring to fix their 1962 game together in Alabama's favor. Butts also sued Curtis Publishing Co. for libel.
The case was decided in Butts' favor in the US District Court of Northern Georgia in August 1963, but Curtis Publishing appealed to the Supreme Court. As a result of Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts 388 U.S. 130 (1967), Curtis Publishing was ordered to pay $3,060,000 in damages to Butts.
The case is considered a landmark case because it established conditions under which a news organization can be held liable for defamation of a "public figure". Bryant reached a separate out-of-court settlement on both of his cases for $300,000 against Curtis Publishing in January 1964.
Career, Business and Investments
Bear Bryant's coaching career began in the 1930s, eventually leading him to the University of Alabama in 1958. Under his guidance, the Alabama Crimson Tide won six national championships, and he became a household name. Beyond coaching, Bryant was involved in various philanthropic efforts and investments, contributing to education and youth sports programs.
After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1936, Bryant was hired as the line coach under head coach A. B. Hollingsworth at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, but he left that position when offered an assistant coaching position under Frank Thomas at the University of Alabama.
Over the next four years, the team compiled a 29–5–3 record. In 1937, he was offered a position as the line coach for VMI under Pooley Hubert, but Bryant ultimately declined the offered and signed a two-year contract to stay with Alabama. In 1940, he left Alabama to become the line coach at Vanderbilt University under first-year Red Sanders.
During their 1940 season, Bryant served as head coach of the Commodores for their 7–7 tie against Kentucky as Sanders was recovering from an appendectomy. After the 1941 season, Bryant was offered the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas.
However, Pearl Harbor was bombed soon thereafter, and Bryant declined the position to join the United States Navy. In 1942, he served as the ends coach for the Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers.
Social Network
Bear Bryant may not have had access to modern social media platforms. However, his legacy is alive and well on various networks. Fans and former players regularly share memories and tributes on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The Bear Bryant Foundation continues to honor his memory and support many charitable initiatives.
He was also known for his trademark black and white houndstooth hat (even though he normally wore a plaid one), deep voice, casually leaning up against the goal post during pre-game warmups, and holding his rolled-up game plan while on the sidelines. Before arriving at Alabama, Bryant was head football coach at the University of Maryland, the University of Kentucky, and Texas A&M University.
Education
Bryant attended the University of Alabama, where he played football before embarking on his coaching career. His education served as a foundational aspect of his life, emphasizing the importance of academic achievement alongside athletic talent.
Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of the University of Alabama football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, from 1958 to 1982.
During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and 13 conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for the most wins (323) as a head coach in collegiate football history. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W.
Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor at the University of Alabama.
