Billy Ray Smith Jr., a former San Diego Chargers linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer, has died at age 64. His family said the cause was dementia brought on by CTE, the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts that can only be definitively diagnosed after death.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the family said Smith "passed away peacefully surrounded by family" and "faced his long journey with dementia caused by CTE with unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength" (The Guardian). The family also said he "brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world" (San Diego Union-Tribune).

Smith's football pedigree ran deep. His father, Billy Ray Smith Sr., played 14 NFL seasons (1957–1970) for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Colts, and also starred at the University of Arkansas. Smith Jr. followed in those footsteps, attending Plano Senior High School in Texas before a dominant college career at Arkansas, where he earned All-American honors twice. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

The Chargers made Smith the No. 5 overall pick in the 1983 NFL draft. He spent all 10 of his professional seasons in San Diego, where his playmaking stood out: 15 career interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, and 13 forced fumbles. The franchise later named him to its 50th anniversary team. The Los Angeles Chargers published an official tribute on their team website honoring his passing (Chargers.com).

After retirement, Smith stayed close to the game and close to San Diego. He became sports director at the city's ABC affiliate, co-hosted a long-running radio show, and covered college and professional football for national television broadcasts.

CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy — is a progressive brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. It cannot be diagnosed with certainty while a person is living; confirmation comes through post-mortem examination of brain tissue. The disease has been identified in dozens of former NFL players and has become a central issue in football's ongoing conversation about player safety and long-term health.

Smith's death adds another name to that list, and his family's decision to publicly cite CTE continues a pattern of families sharing diagnoses to raise awareness. Multiple outlets reported the news on July 30, 2026, including ESPN, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Yahoo Sports.

For Chargers fans, Smith represented an era when the team called San Diego home and linebackers set the tone for the defense. For the broader football community, his story — from a two-time All-American at Arkansas to a decade in the pros to a broadcasting career — is one of a life spent around the game, cut short by one of its deepest shadows.