Former Georgia football coach Mark Richt has received his share of recognitions as he stepped away from the sidelines in retirement and transitioned to off-field work including as a TV analyst.

The latest came Thursday when he was named the American Heart Association's 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Heart of a Champion.

The award honors his “exceptional contributions to college football and the community while supporting the Association’s relentless pursuit of a world of longer, healthier lives for everyone everywhere," according to an announcement.

The award, presented by Houston-based St. Luke’s Health, will be handed out on Jan. 22 in Houston during the Bear Bryant Awards Ceremony to be shown on the CBS Sports Network.

“I am honored beyond measure to be chosen for the Bear Bryant Heart of a Champion Award,”  Richt said in a statement. “Coach Bryant’s legacy is one of unmatched integrity, and leading with integrity was a primary goal of mine during my coaching career. To build a championship program on the field, you need to build a good team, and that starts with building good men. It was a privilege to serve the men I coached and it is a privilege to continue to serve today.”

Richt was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 after going 171-64 at Georgia and Miami. He won 145 games at Georgia and two SEC championships from 2001-15.

Richt has helped raise money and awareness in recent years for Parkinson’s Disease which he is living with while working as an ACC Network analyst. He is active with H.E.R.O. for children, Eagle Ranch orphanage facility among other community organizations.

"Coach Richt is an incredible example of leadership on and off the field,“ said Nancy Brown, American Heart Association chief executive officer. “His work elevated all those around him - a fitting honor to the coaching legacy established by Paul “Bear” Bryant — and his presence is deeply missed in his retirement.

Past winners of the Hear of a Champion Award include ESPN’s Lee Corso, former Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom and Archie and Olivia Manning.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Mark Richt to receive Paul 'Bear' Bryant 'Heart of a Champion' award