Colt Brennan dead: Football world remembers legendary Hawaii QB after tragic news surfaces

ByGarrett Stepien May 11, 2021

Former Hawaii star quarterback Colt Brennan (2005-07) died, according to reports Tuesday from Hawaii News Now and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He was 37.

"It's probably more that he was such an ambassador for the University of Hawaii football program," former Hawaii defensive back (1981-84) and assistant (1999-11) Rich Miano told Hawaii News Now. "And I'm not just talking about (in Hawaii), where he captivated, I think, every single person in this state ... but I also think nationally.

"And the players that played with him and even players before him, I think people ask you, 'Did you play during the Colt Brennan era? Did you play before Colt Brennan or after?' It's almost like he was so iconic that players from the last 40 years or so refer to that as the Colt Brennan era. And really, the national spotlight that he put on the University of Hawaii in such a positive spin."

News of his death led to a series of tributes from media members, Brennan's former coaches and teammates.

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Below is a sampling of how the football world remembered Brennan, a 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist and Hawaii legend.

This is really sad. One of my favorite players to cover in all my years on the college football beat. Condolences to his family. https://t.co/0yiJtbs46I
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 11, 2021

Shocking and breaking news out of Hawaii: Heisman finalist and multiple NCAA record holder Colt Brennan has died https://t.co/clnTJa7jS0
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) May 11, 2021

In 38 games, Brennan completed 1,115 of 1,584 passes (70%) for 14,193 yards and 131 touchdowns to 42 interceptions. Brennan is an NCAA record holder with the most 400-yard games (20), touchdown passes in two seasons (96, 2006-07) and single-season points responsible for (385). As a senior with the Rainbow Warriors in 2007, Brennan completed 359 of 510 passes (70%) for 4,343 yards and 38 touchdowns to 17 interceptions over 12 games.

Jeez. Seems like just yesterday he was slinging it all over the place at Hawaii. RIP. https://t.co/oHAop1JbMt
— Thomas Goldkamp (@ThomasGoldkamp) May 11, 2021

Sad. Loved watching him play back in the day. https://t.co/c1hEtfeBVk
— Danny West (@DannyWest247) May 11, 2021

Brennan rose to stardom at Hawaii as a junior with the Rainbow Warriors in 2006, completing 406 of 559 passes (73%) for 5,549 yards and 58 touchdowns to 12 interceptions through 14 games. Hawaii posted an 11-3 record on the season with losses to Alabama (25-17), Boise State (41-34) and Oregon State (35-32) before a 41-24 win over Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. Brennan's 2007 campaign as a Heisman finalist saw the Rainbow Warriors go 12-0 before suffering a 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Every QB I created in Dynasty Mode on NCAA had the Colt Brennan on-field aesthetic. Rest In Peace. ??

Him and June Jones created magic. https://t.co/7IP7L34j9F pic.twitter.com/1bbgtjT9Tz
— Pierce Simpson (@PierceSimpson) May 11, 2021

He had all of us playing with Hawaii on NCAA Football.
An absolute legend of college football.
May he rest in peace. https://t.co/mWvXD1WW0t
— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) May 11, 2021

Brennan's gunslinging ability in the offense of former Hawaii head coach June Jones (1999-07) became a national phenomenon throughout college football. As a first-year member of the Rainbow Warriors in 2005, Brennan completed 350 of 515 passes (68%) for 4,301 yards and 35 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, going 5-7 overall but making an immediate impact on the program.

RIP Colt Brennan ?? pic.twitter.com/bjzWWLY5YD
— Elite11 (@Elite11) May 11, 2021

Far too young. #RIP https://t.co/mws6qpv4zu
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) May 11, 2021

A native of Irvine, California, Brennan initially went to Colorado and redshirted in 2003. He spent his 2004 season at Saddleback Community College in California, named an honorable mention for the All-America selections. Brennan was California's state offensive player of the year and a first-team all-conference pick, leading Saddleback to a conference championship and making the honor roll. Brennan was a 2007 Elite 11 counselor with fellow college football quarterbacks such as Missouri's Chase Daniel, Michigan's Chad Henne, Cal's Nate Longshore, USC's Mark Sanchez, Texas' Colt McCoy and Kentucky's Andre Woodson.

This guy was such a legend. Threw 58 freaking TDs in 2006 and then led Hawaii to perfect 13-0 2007 regular season that sent UH to the 2008 Sugar Bowl. Just terribly, terribly tragic. https://t.co/L9e33oWDp8
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) May 11, 2021

Colt Brennan in 2006:

406 of 559 for 5,549 yards, 72.6 percentage, 58 TDs.

One of the best seasons in the history of college football, RIP. https://t.co/pnvjplQitI
— Wyatt Crosher (@wcrosher) May 11, 2021

Brennan's aforementioned junior season in 2006 was the start of a historic run. Throughout his three-year Hawaii career, he went on to earn the following honors — All-WAC first team (2006-07), WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2006-07), Associated Press All-America third team (2006-07), O'Brien Award finalist (2006-07), Sammy Baugh Trophy (2006), Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist (2007) and Heisman Trophy finalist (2007).

Colt threw for 350 yards against Alabama in the 2006 opener and had Hawai’i in the game until the final minutes. This is sad and way too soon. https://t.co/4NRBMOAS75
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) May 11, 2021

Colt Brennan's 2006 season was one of the most fun to watch in recent college football memory: 5,549 passing yards and 58 TD in 14 games.

Those late Saturday night Hawaii games were must see.

RIP and condolences to his family. https://t.co/q02COwu8Jh
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 11, 2021

Hawaii opened the 2006 season with a challenge at Alabama on Sept. 2. The Rainbow Warriors put up a fight behind Brennan, who completed 30 of 44 passes (68%) for 350 yards and two touchdowns to one interception.

It’s heartbreaking to hear of the passing of Colt Brennan. One of the greatest (and most fun) players to ever do it. Those Hawaii teams will forever serve as an important waypoint in the evolution of the modern game pic.twitter.com/T9gWerOXLw
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) May 11, 2021

No one did it better. He was a special soul and I enjoyed his friendship. Rest easy Colt. #15
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) May 11, 2021

Second-year Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich previously led Hawaii from 2016-19 and welcomed Brennan back with open arms. Brennan returned Aug. 3, 2018, to a Rainbow Warriors practice and Rolovich did not mince words about the former quarterback's presence.

"They all know what he's done," Rolovich said of Brennan via KHON2 News in Hawaii. "He's one of the greatest college football players to ever play the game."

We are saddened to hear about the passing of former Washington QB Colt Brennan. pic.twitter.com/XIXs3LtqiD
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) May 11, 2021

Tragic to hear that former #WashingtonFootball QB Colt Brennan died at 37. Just saw that he's been going through all kinds of adversity and issues over the past few years. Really sad. RIP, Colt.

The 2008 mania surrounding his preseason performance in DC was epic in this town.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 11, 2021

After Hawaii, Brennan was a sixth-round pick at No. 186 overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, selected by the Washington Football Team. Following a two-year run with Washington, Brennan bounced to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2010 before a drop to the CFL and a couple other semi-pro leagues from 2011-14.

To say this man was idolized growing up was an understatement. Colt Brennan was Superman on the football field plain and simple. Everyone had his jersey back home. Getting to watch the undefeated season live with my dad was one of my favorite memories growing up.

RIP Colt ??. https://t.co/gKczZu6daq
— Brennen Scarborough (@bpscarborough) May 11, 2021

RIP to one of my childhood football idols... gone way to soon. This man truly inspired me and others to play with FIRE . RIP #ColtBrennan #EddieWouldTHROW ?? pic.twitter.com/GPRlkjiDp8
— Dane Evans (@daneevans9) May 11, 2021

Brennan's impact on the program could be felt from a local and national level.

"The offensive guys were almost in awe, you know?" Rolovich said Aug. 3, 2018. "(Then-offensive lineman) J.R. Hensley, he's talking about he used to stay up in Oklahoma to watch Colt play when he was a kid. So I just think it's real special. I think it's real special for Colt, where he knows the plays. And I think this is a positive thing for him. And any of our alumni we can bring back into the family and be around our guys, that's important to me."

Heartbreaking news. RIP to #3Striper Colt Brennan. An all-time great. A true Monarch.

Our thoughts & prayers are with the Brennan family.

\|/ https://t.co/ncPPi8gVhA
— Mater Dei Football (@MDFootball) May 11, 2021

Rest in aloha, Colt ?? pic.twitter.com/wCXtCNfuyH
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) May 11, 2021

Brennan was a product of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei in the 2002 recruiting class. He lettered thrice in football and once in basketball, too. As a senior, Brennan was invited to play in the County All-Star Game. He led his football team to the league championship as a sophomore. He spent one year at Worcester (Mass.) Academy. His parents are Betsy and Terry Brennan of Irvine, California.

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