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, though his exact cause of death has not been made public. In a statement this week, they described his fight with dementia as one he met with “unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength.”
“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, a career that left him with the kind of repeated head trauma linked to CTE. According to the Boston University CTE Center, the risk of the disease doubles for every 2.6 years in the game.
Over 126 NFL games, the Arkansas product put together 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles. He was later selected to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary Team.
Smith never won a Super Bowl, unlike his father, another Arkansas linebacker, who captured one with the Baltimore Colts in January of 1971.
After football, Smith became a well-known sportscaster at San Diego’s KGTV, where his wife, Kimberly, worked as an anchor.
His death comes amid continued concern about CTE among former NFL players. The family of former offensive lineman Jordan Devey recently said they believe he suffered from CTE before his recent suicide, though his father, Kerry, said Devey’s brain cannot be studied because of the circumstances of his death. Another former Chargers linebacker, Hall of Famer Junior Seau, was found to have CTE after his 2012 suicide.
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