Bear Bryant died on this day in 1983: Vintage photos of Alabama legend’s final game, funeral

Mary Harmon Bryant didn’t want an elaborate funeral for her husband, certainly nothing at the football stadium. Her husband already had enough attention, he figured it out. She didn’t want music or a long list of speakers giving eulogies.

Nonetheless, the service and telecasts filled three churches in downtown Tuscaloosa. Hundreds of thousands lined the streets there and in Birmingham and along the path of Interstate 59 along which Paul “Bear” Bryant was taken to his final resting place at Elmwood Cemetery.

Bryant died on Jan. 26, 1983 and the services were held on Jan. 28. He was 69 years old, only a month removed from the last football game he ever coached, the 1982 Liberty Bowl — the 323rd of his then-record victories.

These vintage photos of Bryant’s funeral were taken by former photographers Tony Triolo and Dave Dieter, among others. They include shots of various dignitaries in attendance, such as Joe Namath and ex-coaches Bud Wilkinson and Woody Hayes.

On this, the anniversary of his death, we thought it would be appropriate to share those and other photographs.

Here are more vintage images and stories of Alabama’s past.