Baylor legend Grant Teaff honored with Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award

Legendary Baylor football coach Grant Teaff has earned a lot of honors in his career. The 1974 AFCA Coach of the Year remains the winningest coach in Baylor football history, and is a member of eight halls of fame (including the College Football Hall of Fame).

Add one more honor to the list: Earlier this month, Teaff was recognized with the Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually by the American Heart Association in honor of a college football coach’s “outstanding achievements and extraordinary contributions.”

The honor is fitting — both because of the long friendship and mutual respect between Teaff and Bear Bryant, and because Teaff was the heart of Baylor football for his two decades leading the program.

“As I look back on my time coaching,” Teaff says, “I think of the wins, and sometimes the bitter losses. But mostly I think of the young men I had the privilege to coach — not only on the field, but off the field.

“We ask our players to play with their heart, all the while knowing that their heart is the key to their physical success. So I’m thrilled to support the American Heart Association.”

Sic ’em, Coach Teaff!