Colt Brennan, a star quarterback at Hawaii who was third in the 2007 Heisman voting, had public struggles with alcohol and "it caught up with him," Terry Brennan said of his son. It was rough. He was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Terry Brennan told ESPN that his son died early Tuesday morning at a hospital in Newport Beach, California. It was last fall when Terry decided to bring his son home. So Colt Brennan joined his parents at the family home in the hills above Irvine, four months into the five-month substance-abuse treatment program that was giving back to the Brennans their only son. He was charged with filing a false report when he claimed his car had been stolen, the case later dismissed. He was given the title of honorable mention All-America, and state offensive player of the year. Before that, he was credited for leading the schools team as the league champion as a sophomore. He chose to use neither. He was 37. His sisters made sure he had the Bob Marley music going by his side, Terry Brennan said of the reggae his son was fond of from his time in Hawaii. All the latest sports news from Hawaiis sports station, The College Football Hall of Fame website states First and foremost, a player must have received First Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.. Nothing hinted at what would happen next. All that stuff, all those texts and the things that were said, were not Colt, Jones said. We all understood that.. He previously spent 20 years as a sports columnist for the Orange County Register and, before that, the Miami Herald. Brennan, who finished third in the 2007 Heisman Trophy balloting, died on May 11 at age 37. After starting for one year at Mater Dei High and playing a season at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, Brennan redshirted as a freshman at the University of Colorado. Douglas County School District pays $832,733 to settle fired Superintendent Corey Wise's unlawful termination claim. He had a lot of aloha for the state and his teammates. He was a promising player who was adored for his humble nature and giving an impressive performance. Colton James Brennan was born to his parents Terry Brennan and Betsy Brennan. The 37-year-old had been receiving treatment at a California rehab facility before his death. Colt Brennan, a former University of Hawaii quarterback who tied or broke dozens of N.C.A.A. After his death in May of. While in Hawaii he often avoided media attention and credited his fellow players and his coach whenever he performed well. My whole life revolved around football. Colt was arrested twice last year, once for causing a disturbance at a hotel while intoxicated, and again a few months later for another disturbance at his Hawaii home. Jobs. Scroll down this Colt Brennan article to learn more about him along with details on his wife/girlfriend. HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Colt Brennan, the record-setting quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist who led the University of Hawaii . The former University of Hawaii football star suffered an accidental overdose, caused by a lethal concoction of fentanyl, methamphetamine, amphetamine, and ethanol, a rep for the Orange County Sheriff's Department tells PEOPLE. How could they do that, especially in the condition he must have been in? Brennans sister, Chanel Brewster, asked. After that, he struggled with a head injury, substance abuse and legal issues. Brennan finished his Hawaii career with 131 touchdown passes and 20 400-yard performances. In 2003, Brennan joined the University of Colorado, where he red-shirted. Showing a promising career at a very young age, he always had a circle of friends above his age group. His 58 touchdown passes set an FBS record at the time, though former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow broke that mark in 2019. Colt Brennan died from an accidental overdose in May after he attempted to check into a detox program but was turned away due to a shortage of beds. Uncle Colt was a big brother to (my children). They had the music of Bob Marley playing near his ear.". The test results confirmed what his parents had suspected. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He was 37. The damage included head trauma and left Brennan more moody, depressed and impatient. Washington tweeted Tuesday that it was saddened to hear of Brennan's death. 'It's the Continuous Hits': Colt Brennan's Family Learns CTE Played Role in His Death Repeated hits from football and injuries from a serious car accident made challenges that much more. The elder Brennan said his son was in the fifth month of a six-month treatment program. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images) He currently ranks No. It was Brennans announcement in 2007 that earned him Colt status. All rights reserved. They thought he was in Newport Beach, at the Hoag Hospital detox facility, where Terry had taken him. That was the drugs speaking. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. As far as coaches making the College Football Hall of Fame, a head coach must coach at least 100 games while winning at least 60 percent of the contests. Brennan is fourth all-time in career touchdown passes with 131. After a rainbow-brilliant three years at the University of Hawaii and an NFL career that fizzled, Brennans existence became a series of failed starts to rediscover peace and chase away his tormentors. . 10, the highest position in school history. He was this Cali kid, had this surfer dude look, rad and all that, said Breiden Fehoko, whose father, Vili, was an entertainer and, at the time, played the role of Hawaiis warrior mascot. A toxicology report confirmed that former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan died of an accidental drug overdose, TMZ Sports reported on Friday. Click here and log in to view this story Start Free Account Get access to 10 premium stories every month for FREE! For those close to Colt Brennan, his football afterlife was an excruciating cycle of addiction. He spent a week in jail in 2005. Colt Brennan's run of success from 2005 to 2007 helped put Hawai'i football on the map. By HNN Staff. And as a senior, he played in 12 out of 13 games. Quarterback Colt Brennan or the University of Hawaii Warriors poses for a photo on Waikiki Beach on August 16, 2007 in . #7-500 Nothing but Brennans decade-plus struggle with drugs and alcohol, a struggle that left a former quarterback once famous for swiftly advancing his team great distances limping and leaning on a cane. 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That person has to want to help themselves or youre never going to beat it. On and the field, Brennans impact on Hawaii during his time as UHs quarterback was immesurable. Fehoko would grow up to play at LSU and now is a defensive lineman for the Chargers. Brennan passed in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 11, at a hospital in Newport Beach, California.. Besides that, Colts dating life avoided the spotlight and public attention. But all that big-time potential was tucked away at Saddleback, a tiny community college, for a reason. Colt Brennan celebrates after leading Hawaii to victory over Boise State on Nov. 23, 2007. Brennan finished sixth in Heisman voting in 2006 and third in 2007. A star at Hawaii, Brennan led a pass-happy attack that in 2007 won the WAC title with a 12-0 regular season before losing to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. He was sentenced to seven days in jail and four years probation. Former Mater Dei High and Saddleback College quarterback Colt Brennan, who went on to star at the University of Hawaii and had a brief NFL career, died early Tuesday morning, May 11 at age 37.. Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, left, and coach June Jones talk during a game against Northern Colorado on Sept. 1, 2007. Thats when I realized, Oh, my God. Colt Brennan is raised on people's shoulders after an NCAA Football game between defending WAC Champions Boise State and Hawaii, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at Aloha Stadium. He threw for a wild 5,549 yards and 58 touchdowns while completing nearly 73% of his passes during the 2006 season, a performance that helped him finish sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year. Terry Brennan said his son was never the same after the car accident, which left him with the head injury, broken ribs and a broken collarbone. Along with experiencing concussions in football, Brennan suffered head trauma in a 2010 head-on collision when an SUV he was traveling in crossed the center line. Thats where we are right now., Brennan was surrounded by family members when he died. He apparently took an Uber there. Brennan was a sixth-round pick in 2008 by Washington and also played briefly for the Raiders, but he will be remembered as a college cult hero. Im finally starting to find my way., He closed by expressing his thanks and his love and signed XOXO.. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Everything's wrong with Giants defense right now. A collection of experienced writers and editors, we aim to provide relevant and informative articles related to your favorite celebrities. In 2010, he was involved in a car crash that broke his collarbone and ribs, caused head trauma, and resulted in blood clots that would plague him the rest of his life, his father said. 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