Former Hawaii star, NFL QB Colt Brennan dead at 37

Former Hawaii star quarterback Colt Brennan died at the age of 37, his father Terry Brennan confirmed.

Terry told the Star Advertiser that Colt passed away on Monday at a hospital in Newport, Calif.. He was in his fifth month in a rehab facility when his body was found unconscious. His family was by his side when he died, as "they had the music of Bob Marley playing near his ear."

"He was doing so well, the spark was back in his eyes, and he was healthy and doing great, and it happened," Terry said.

Colt became a legend during his college career at Hawaii, as he led the NCAA in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2005 and 2006. He still ranks fourth all-time in career touchdown passes with 131 and his 58 touchdown passes in 2006 were the most ever until Joe Burrow broke the record in 2019. His prolific college career got him drafted by Washington in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, but he never got the chance to play in the NFL.

A car accident in 2010 resulted in a traumatic brain injury that effectively ended Colt's football career, and in recent years, he had a series of run-ins with the law, including multiple DUIs. Terry said that he had been doing well in his current inpatient treatment program.

"It just got away from him," Terry said. "I don’t know how else to explain it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to explain it better."