Billy Ray Smith Jr., the longtime San Diego Chargers linebacker and later a familiar face in San Diego sports broadcasting, has died at 64 after a battle with dementia that his family says was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
The family said Smith passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. His exact cause of death has not been made public.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of our beloved Billy Ray Smith Jr., who passed away peacefully surrounded by family,” the family said in a statement this week. “Billy Ray faced his long journey with dementia caused by CTE with unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength.
“Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend. On the NFL gridiron for a decade with the Chargers, and decades that followed in sports broadcasting, Billy Ray earned deep respect from teammates, colleagues, and fans, who he cherished in return.
“He leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives. His undeniable legacy will live forever in our hearts, and we thank our incredible community for the outpouring of love and support.”
The family did not say whether Smith had received an official CTE diagnosis. That distinction matters, since the degenerative brain disease can only be confirmed after death.
Smith spent all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Chargers, taking repeated hits over a career that stretched across 126 games. He finished with 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles, and was later selected to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary Team.
A standout from Arkansas, Smith was the son and namesake of another Arkansas linebacker. Unlike his father, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts in January of 1971, Smith Jr. never captured a title.
His football career was followed by a second act in television, where he became a popular sportscaster at San Diego’s KGTV. His wife, Kimberly, worked there as an anchor.
Smith’s death comes amid growing attention around CTE and former NFL players. The source also noted the recent case of former offensive lineman Jordan Devey, whose family said they believed he suffered from CTE before his recent suicide, though his brain cannot be studied because of the circumstances of his death, according to his father, Kerry.
Another former Chargers linebacker, Hall of Famer Junior Seau, was found to have CTE after his 2012 suicide.
The Boston University CTE Center has said that for every 2.6 years in the game, the risk of the brain disease doubles.
In Other News...
An Overlooked Rams Defensive Back Is Forcing His Way Into Focus
Cam Lampkin has spent enough time around the Rams to know how quickly a camp buzz can fade, but the undrafted defensive back is giving the staff a reason to keep watching. After joining Los Angeles in 2024, he has worked through two seasons on the practice squad and arrived at the start of 2026 training camp with a chance to finally turn that steady development into something more concrete.
What has helped him stand out is the kind of flexibility coaches always value, with Lampkin handling both cornerback and safety duties while looking sharp in the early sessions. The challenge now is less about making a first impression and more about sustaining it, because a promising start only matters if he can keep stacking consistent days and force his way onto the active roster conversation. [Read more 🡒]
NFL Coaches Just Sent Sean McVay A Surprising Message
Sean McVay keeps finding new ways to stay ahead of the league, and a recent survey of defensive coordinators offered another reminder of how widely he is viewed around the NFL. In The Athletic poll, eight defensive coaches were asked to rank the games top offensive play-callers, and McVay landed near the top even as the responses varied from one coach to the next.
For the Rams, the more interesting part is the company McVay keeps and the way his influence keeps spreading. His former offensive coordinators, including Matt LaFleur and Liam Coen, were also mentioned among the coaches drawing strong respect, a reflection of how much McVays ideas have traveled even as he keeps adjusting his own offense from one season to the next. [Read more 🡒]
Davante Adams Has Taken On An Unexpected Rams Camp Role
Training camp has already produced one of the more interesting side stories for the Rams, with Davante Adams spending time in a teaching role for Emmanuel Forbes Jr. The veteran receiver has been helping the cornerback sharpen the parts of his game that need the most work, especially coverage and tackling, as Forbes tries to make the most of his time in Los Angeles.
Forbes is in the final year of his rookie contract, so every rep carries a little more weight than usual. The two have been matched up in practice, and Forbes has shown he is taking the coaching seriously, which gives the Rams a useful glimpse at how a young defender responds when a proven offensive star is leaning into the details with him. [Read more 🡒]