I was saddened to hear that Colt Brennan died of a drug overdose (Fentanyl) in California at the age of 37. So unbelievably young. People in Hawaii and the mainland are reeling from the shocking news. He had been at a rehabilitation facility for medical issues, but left for some reason. He was found unconscious in a hotel last week and died at a hospital in California last Monday, surrounded by his family.
Colt was a famous quarterback on the University of Hawaii Warrior Football Team. He led his team to victory in all 12 games during the 2007 football season. He also led the team to victory in the WAC Championship game. Because of this successful season, the team was invited to play in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in January 2008. Unfortunately, they lost to Georgia.
Colt placed third in the Heisman Trophy competition in December 2007.
Colt was drafted in the 6th round in the NFL draft by Washington, but was released two years later. He then joined the Oakland Raiders, but was released after one month.
In 2010, he was involved in a horrific car accident and suffered traumatic injuries to his brain and body. These injuries probably led to his downfall. He had substance abuse problems as well as legal troubles involving intoxication. He also had problems with walking and had to use a cane or wheelchair to get around.
It was because of Colt Brennan and June Jones (the UH football head coach) that I personally became interested in UH football. Normally, I am not interested in sports. But, because of Colt and Jones, I fell head over heels in love with UH football. Now that Colt is dead and Jones is no longer the coach, I have lost interest. Somehow, the charisma and the magic are missing, and because of that, I find the sport absolutely boring.
This is my photo of Colt Brennan, signing autographs for UH fans at Aloha Stadium prior to the Spring Scrimmage in 2007:
This is the WAC championship ring, won in 2007. I tried it on for fun at a meeting with the coach and other UH fans. Note how big the ring is compared to my wedding ring:
This is a framed photo of Colt, wearing the NFL Washington uniform. This photo hangs on the Wall of Fame in the Stan Sheriff Center Athletic Department at the University of Hawaii:
Aloha, Colt. Thanks for the memories!
gigi-hawaii 
May 13, 2021 at 12:12 am |
I hope that the truth will soon come out. Why did he leave the treatment program and why did he end up in a hotel room? It seems that he was a victim of the careless act of his girlfriend. She crossed the center line and hit another car head on. She was not seriously hurt. Colt suffered serious brain injury and the other driver ended up in nursing care. His girlfriend was not charged as she was not intoxicated. Life is often cruel and unfair.
May 13, 2021 at 12:12 am |
I’ve never heard of him before, but it’s always sad to see a young person die like that. Valerie
May 13, 2021 at 12:57 am |
…drug use is a very serious issue in this country!
May 13, 2021 at 1:28 am |
fentanyl is apparently the heroin
May 13, 2021 at 2:27 am |
It sounds like this poor man has been living with tragedy for awhile, how awful to die so young. I’m sorry for your feelings of loss here, Gigi.
May 13, 2021 at 2:48 am |
I had read of his passing and I wondered if you and Kay had been aware of him. So sorry that the young man who dealt with so much tragedy was taken so young. A senseless death.
May 13, 2021 at 2:57 am |
How very sad. I didn’t know anything about him until his death. I pray for solace for his family and fans.
May 13, 2021 at 3:37 am |
Very sad
May 13, 2021 at 3:50 am |
Some people have a tough row to hoe in this world.
May 13, 2021 at 3:56 am |
Very sad situation. 😦
May 13, 2021 at 8:34 am |
Any death from the scourge of addiction is too many.
May 13, 2021 at 11:35 pm |
Oh, my goodness, what a very sad story.
Yes. The charisma in our football team is gone, too. We used to know the players names by heart. They were introduced with the first and everybody yelled the surname.
Now… those days are gone (not that we were allowed to go to any game since Corinna anyways…)
Oh, what a beautiful, nice man he was.
And wow, some ring!!! Nice they share this.
Sad post.
May 13, 2021 at 11:39 pm |
So very sad. So young with a great future and life ahead.
May 14, 2021 at 3:24 am |
Too young. So sad.
May 15, 2021 at 2:22 pm |
He was a super star while at UH. And yet, he was the nicest person. I also lost interest in UH football after he left. Very sad about his last 10 years. I wish he returned to Hawaii.