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Winnona Fifita, the mother of Noah Fifita, texted Brennan an old photo of the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ quarterback watching a Los Angeles Lakers game with his younger brother, Dash, who’s set to join the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in 2026 as a linebacker.

In the photo, which is framed in Brennan’s office at Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, Noah Fifita is wearing a Colt Brennan Washington Redskins “shirsey.�

Brennan, a former quarterback and legendary figure in Hawaii football history, is one of Brent Brennan’s first cousins. The photo of Fifita wearing Colt Brennan garb is “just awesome, because it reminds me of the impact Colt had on Hawaii.�

“That was home to Colt,� Brennan said. “It was almost like it was where he belonged. Seeing that picture of Noah, that’s just how it was. There was so much fanfare.�

When ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ kicks off its season against Hawaii on Aug. 30, Brennan will have Cousin Colt on his mind and expects to feel a wave of emotions, but not as intense as Brennan’s previous experiences coaching against Hawaii in Honolulu, when he was the head coach at San Jose State prior to his UA stint. Brennan’s last game at San Jose State was a loss to South Florida in the Hawaii Bowl in 2023.

The story and legacy of Colt Brennan’s life is complicated. It’s one that ended sadly, but the former Hawaii star had a profound impact on UH football and the college football world. Brennan is the first and only player in Hawaii football history to finish a season as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

“I don’t know too many people who would argue against Colt being on the Mount Rushmore of Hawaii football,� said former Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich.

Former Hawaii head coach June Jones said Brennan “could be governor (of Hawaii) right now if he was still here.�

“People of Hawaii say that name, they still know and understand what he did and who he was for the state,� Jones said.

Itching for playing time

Brennan grew up in Irvine, California, “and was always like the extra little brother running around,� Brent Brennan said.

Brennan’s father, Steve, was one of five siblings — one of those brothers, Terry Brennan, was Colt Brennan’s father.

Once the older Brennans became adults and had families of their own, Steve Brennan resided in Redwood City, a town in Northern California, while Terry Brennan’s family lived in Orange County.

Every year, the Brennans gathered in Oceanside, California, during the Fourth of July for a family reunion that included fireworks, bonfires and barbecues.

“That’s where we got to connect every year,� Brent Brennan said.

The Brennans also spent Thanksgiving together and often played a game of touch football. Brad Brennan, Brent’s younger brother and a former UA wide receiver, said “there was an age gap� between Colt Brennan and his football-obsessed cousins.

“He wasn’t our age or a couple years younger, so he was always running around and annoying us, wanting to throw the football around,� Brad Brennan said. “He always had a football in his hand.�

Colt Brennan is roughly 10 years younger than Brent Brennan. Saturday would’ve been Colt Brennan’s 42nd birthday.

“We’d have our Thanksgiving football game and he’d be dressed in his L.A. Rams uniform on the sideline playing by himself and trying to get into the game with the big cousins,� Brent Brennan said. “We had a great relationship with Colt.�

Colt Brennan’s dream was to quarterback the Mater Dei Monarchs, a national powerhouse high school football program in Santa Ana, California. Brennan was the understudy to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and former USC star Matt Leinart, and then took over as the starter in 2001 and passed for 2,079 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Even though Brennan was a standout high school quarterback, he wasn’t a highly-touted recruit and signed with Colorado as a walk-on following a postgraduate season at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts.

In 2004, a Colorado student accused Brennan of sexual misconduct after he entered her dorm room uninvited and allegedly fondled her until a classmate intervened, which Brennan denied. Brennan was arrested on sexual assault, trespassing and burglary charges.

After passing a court-ordered polygraph test, Brennan, who was intoxicated the night of the incident, was found guilty of second-degree burglary and first-degree trespassing and was sentenced to seven days in jail and four years of probation. At the time of Brennan’s arrest, several Colorado student-athletes were accused of sex crimes during recruiting visits. As a result of Colorado’s poor reputation, Brennan was cut from the team.

Four years after the incident at Colorado, Brennan said, “I’m the one who’s at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got into trouble that just weren’t right.�

“It made me a lot tougher internally,� Brennan said in 2008. “It made me realize that life is not fair. You’ve got to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the way I changed.�

Brennan transferred to Saddleback College (California) and led the Southern California junior college to a conference championship in 2004.

Brennan garnered attention from FBS programs, including San Jose State, which was headed by late ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ coaching icon Dick Tomey, who led both Hawaii and ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football programs. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-Hawaii game next week will be the first time both teams have played each other since Tomey died in 2019. Tomey and Brennan “had a tremendous impact on Hawaii football,â€� Brent Brennan said, “and it’s fun to know that the legacy is there and that we get to play each other.â€�

“Don’t get me wrong, we want to go out and smash Hawaii,� Brad Brennan said. “But there are bigger-than-football moments surrounding a game like this. Hawaii and our family with Colt, with Coach Tomey, there’s such a legacy from both schools. I’m hoping they do something cool and add some pageantry around this game.

“Every Hawaii fan that I have ever met, they have mad love for Coach Tomey and ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football. A lot of my teammates at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ — and even the players now — are coming from the islands, so it’s a special thing. I’m really excited for this game.â€�

Colt Brennan didn’t choose to play for Tomey — and Brent Brennan, who was a wide receivers coach for the Spartans at the time — at San Jose State. Instead, he found June Jones, a Tomey disciple who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Hawaii in 1983. Jones is the winningest head coach in Hawaii history with a 76-41 record between 1999-2007. 

“They both have a very special place in Hawaii,� Jones said of Brennan and Tomey. “They came at a time when things were unsettled and both became heroes.�

‘The best quarterback I’ve ever been around’

When Brennan arrived at Hawaii, the Rainbow Warriors were looking for the successor to quarterback Timmy Chang, who’s now the current head coach of UH.

Chang ended his career at Hawaii as the FBS record-holder for snaps played by a quarterback (2,587), pass attempts (2,436) and interceptions (80). Chang’s 17,072 career passing yards rank third in FBS history.

The quarterbacks on Hawaii’s roster: Kainoa Akina, the son of former longtime ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ assistant coach Duane Akina, Tucson native and Salpointe Catholic graduate Tyler Graunke and Jack Rolovich, the brother of Nick Rolovich, who was a student assistant at Hawaii amid an Arena Football-playing career. Rolovich, who also used the run-and-shoot offense, was an offensive assistant from 2008-11 and was the Rainbow Warriors’ head coach from 2016-19.

Brennan was named Hawaii’s starter in 2005, however, he “didn’t really understand and (learn) the system, but he was leading the country in passing," Jones said.

In Jones’ pass-centric run-and-shoot system, Brennan led college football in total offensive yards (4,455) and passing touchdowns (35) in his first season, but Hawaii ended the season 5-7.

As a second-year starter in 2006, Brennan threw for a school-record 5,549 yards, 58 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and led Hawaii to an 11-3 record and a second-place finish in the WAC behind Boise State.

“That is an insane number of touchdown passes,� Brent Brennan said. “They played an exciting brand of football.�

Hawaii ended the 2006 season with a win over ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State for the Hawaii Bowl. Brennan set the NCAA record for most points (384) scored in a season.

Colt Brennan “played football with more joy and enthusiasm than any player I have ever seen,� Brent Brennan said.

“He was so fun to watch,â€� added the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ coach. “He had incredible charisma on the field. He had the (helmet visor) and had the swag and played with so much enthusiasm. In terms of Colt as a player, the most impressive thing was his accuracy, decision-making and anticipation.â€�

Colt Brennan’s throwing motion drew criticism “because he threw the ball out of a bunch of different arm slots,â€� similar to high-level quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL, like Patrick MaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and Josh Allen.

“He didn’t stand back there and throw it like Peyton Manning or one of those people you would think about,� Brent Brennan said. “His anticipation and accuracy was unlike anyone I have ever seen.�

Added Brad Brennan: “He could sling the ball and had a side-arm release at times, but now we’re seeing guys like MaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ throw with a side arm away from defenders’ hands. He had a chip on his shoulder and said, ‘A lot of teams didn’t believe in me and I’m going to prove everybody wrong.’â€�

Rolovich said Colt Brennan played quarterback “his own way and had control of the ball.�

“He was just gifted in his angles and his mechanics were solely his — and he mastered it,� Rolovich said. “He had a vision and anticipation that is pretty rare in a quarterback. A lot of people need to see it open, but he was moving people and opening it up for his guys and seeing it before it happened.�

In today’s NFL, “he would’ve made it to the National Football League League and been a productive player,� said Jones.

“He’s the best quarterback I’ve ever been around, the most accurate passer,� added Jones. “Just an unbelievable player.�

‘It was a perfect storm of beautiful Aloha’

Even though his numbers weren’t as eyebrow-raising the following season, the height of Brennan’s popularity at Hawaii was during the 2007 season, when he passed for 4,343 yards, 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions and led UH to an undefeated regular season and a WAC championship. At the start of the season, Brennan bleached his hair and black-dyed the Hawaiian islands on his head.

Once Brennan became a national phenomenon, “Aloha Stadium was packed,� Brent Brennan said.

“When you went there for a game day, it was a spectacle and an experience,� Brennan said.

Colt Brennan brought the magic on the road, too.

Hawaii started the 2007 season 6-0, but was on upset alert facing a 3-3 San Jose State team on the road. Brennan threw three first-half interceptions, and San Jose State held a two-touchdown lead early in the fourth quarter.

“It was raining and it was a horrible, crappy game,� Brent Brennan said. “The field was flooded and everyone was pissed off. The surface was so bad.�

Facing the first loss of the season, the final minutes of the fourth quarter became winning time for Colt Brennan.

“He got going and it didn’t matter how hard it was raining or how wet the ball is, it was time to win and he just started dealing,� Brent Brennan said. “There wasn’t much we could do about it.�

Rolovich was the quarterbacks coach at College of San Francisco in 2007 and saw the “inspiring football play� that resulted in Hawaii beating San Jose State 42-35 in overtime. Brennan completed 44 of 75 passes for 545 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

“There was dirt, mud and last-minute heroics,� Rolovich said. “To see the leadership skills and the magnetic personality and what his presence did to the rest of his teammates, it was pretty special.�

Every game between Hawaii and San Jose State “ended the same way,� Brent Brennan said.

“It always ended with him hugging me midfield saying, ‘I love you, cuz,’� said Brennan. “I’ll say, ‘I love you, too.’ But he always beat us.�

Despite the undefeated season, Hawaii was thumped by Matt Stafford and the Georgia Bulldogs, 41-10, in the Sugar Bowl. In the three seasons Brennan was at Hawaii, the Rainbow Warriors went 28-11. 

Brennan was named a Heisman Trophy finalist and finished third behind Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden; Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel was fourth.

“I think his legacy for Hawaii football and the state of Hawaii is really special and it’s really rare,� Brent Brennan said. “What the state of Hawaii was for him and what the University of Hawaii meant to him, it was so incredible. They had this amazing relationship. They both elevated each other. ... I don’t think it has ever been like that and it hasn’t been like that since. ... Being in Hawaii, because that community supported him so much, because the coaching staff supported him so much, because his teammates supported him so much, it helped him navigate the hard stuff he had to go through.�

Colt Brennan, a two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year, “had this amazing spirit� and “kids were jumping out of cars to get an autograph when we were just driving down the street� in Honolulu, said Brad Brennan.

“When he chose to stay after their successful season, I think that solidified his legacy there,� he added. “I would see him at a park or at a shopping mall and the guy never stopped signing autographs. If you know the Polynesian spirit, it’s all about family and how we can help each other out, and I think that is why they loved him so much. He was obviously a great player there and put them on a national scale, but the family stuff made him who he was in that community.�

Said Rolovich: “There have been so many great players in college football, but what he did for the state of Hawaii and the unification around UH football and what that whole team did, especially going to the Sugar Bowl and him coming back for his senior year, it was an incredible and emotional and proud moment for all of the people of Hawaii and anyone who was a UH fan. ... It was a perfect storm of beautiful Aloha for the people of Hawaii.�

‘None of us are immortal’

Colt Brennan was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 186th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2008. Brennan completed 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL preseason debut against the Indianapolis Colts.

Brennan’s three touchdowns and 411 passing yards in the NFL preseason led all rookies — a rookie class that had Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. Brennan was the backup to Jason Campbell, who started all 16 regular-season games for Washington in 2008.

A hip injury and torn hamstring placed Brennan on injured reserve in 2009. Brennan was released by Washington and signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2010, but was cut. Brennan never played a regular-season snap in the NFL.

A few months after Brennan was released by the Raiders, he was a passenger in a serious car crash in Hawaii. Brennan suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and broken ribs and collarbone. He spent over a week at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Following the car wreck, Brennan told reporters he became “a different person.�

“I just have a small scar, you know, on my brain, but it’s in an area that makes you impulsive and emotional,� he said.

Rolovich said the “car accident was a big deal.� While Rolovich was the offensive coordinator at Hawaii, he invited Brennan to practice several times.

“I remember he came out to practice and we had to get him on the golf cart to get him around, but he was still an icon at Hawaii and at practice,� Rolovich said. “He had great insight.�

Brennan attempted to revive his football-playing career with stops with the Hartford Colonials (United Football League), Saskatchewan Roughriders (Canadian Football League) and Los Angeles Kiss (Arena Football League), but didn’t last a season with any of the aforementioned teams.

Injuries from football and the aftermath from the car crash led Brennan down a dark path. In 2012, Brennan was arrested in Hawaii on suspicion of driving under the influence and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug after a packet with cocaine residue was found in his car. Brennan was arrested on a DUI charge in 2019 and trespassing in 2020.

“It was so sad for him to go down that path because he was such a great human being,� Brent Brennan said.

But Colt Brennan couldn’t stay out of his own way. He abused alcohol and drugs for years, which made it “incredibly challenging for his immediate family,� Brent Brennan said.

“They have this awesome, loving family and there was just a lot of tough moments in there as he was riding the rollercoaster of what that time in his life was,� Brennan said. “His immediate family put in a lot of effort and tried to get him back on track — and lots of other people did, too, like friends, family and other coaches. Colt was one of those guys people wanted to be around and when he was in his struggle, people wanted to help.�

Colt Brennan died in May 2021, found unconscious in a hotel room in Newport Beach, California, after ingesting fentanyl. Hours before, Terry Brennan attempted to submit his son into a nearby detox center, but the former Hawaii quarterback was turned away because no beds were available. Brennan was 37 years old when he died. Brennan's autopsy report showed ethanol, methamphetamines, amphetamines and fentanyl in his system. He also had Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which stems from concussions and brain injuries.  

“It’s obviously sad,� Rolovich said. “None of us are immortal. It’s not how we wanted the story to end, but he was a great human when I was around him and I miss him dearly.�

Over four years later, Brent Brennan still feels the affects of losing his cousin and Hawaii football legend.

“Life is precious,� Brennan said. “The good moments are the good moments, but it’s just a moment. Just watching what he went through, the highs and lows over 10-15 years of his life, how hard that must’ve been on him and his family and everyone who loves him. That part is the most tragic part for me. ...

“My memories of Colt are great because whenever I was with him, he was this bright, shining light of personality and fun and smiles and laughter and joy. Even competing against him, watching him play with incredible enthusiasm, so my memories of Colt are incredibly positive. He was magic on the football field and magic off it.�