The NFL lost a beloved figure Wednesday when word came down that Billy Ray Smith Jr. had died. The former Chargers linebacker was 64 years old. His family confirmed his passing in a statement, according to ESPN. They said he went peacefully after a long fight with dementia caused by CTE.
Smith played all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Chargers after they drafted him fifth overall in 1983. He was a two-time Unanimous All-American at Arkansas, where he built a reputation that carried right into the pros. In the NFL he racked up 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. He made the All-Pro Second Team in 1985.
His family called his battle with CTE-related dementia an act of bravery and strength. They described him as a man who brought joy and laughter to everyone around him. He was a father, a husband, a son and a loyal friend.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos said the news is hard to process and hard to accept. He called Smith larger than life, always lighting up a room with that infectious laugh. Spanos said Smith was the kind of friend a friend should be. The team posted Spanos’ comments on social media alongside a tribute.
From the Field to the Broadcast Booth
Smith didn’t just play football. After retiring in 2012 he jumped into broadcasting. He started as a radio host on XX Sports Radio and later moved to a morning show run by the San Diego Union-Tribune. FOX Sports eventually hired him, and he became a co-host of the Chargers Power Report. That side of his career showed the same energy he brought to the field.
He leaves behind his wife Kimberly Hunt and their daughter Savannah Smith. The family statement painted a picture of a man who lived fully and loved deeply. CTE took him too soon, but his family wanted people to remember the joy he spread, not just the disease that ended his life.
The Chargers organization is grieving a teammate and a friend. Fans who watched him play and later heard him talk about the game are mourning too. Smith’s death adds another name to the list of former players whose lives were cut short by the long-term effects of football head trauma. It’s a story that’s becoming painfully familiar in the NFL.
Leave a Comment