Beloved NFL Star Dead After Heartbreaking CTE Battle

Chargers legend and College Football Hall of Famer Billy Ray Smith Jr. has died at 64 after a heartbreaking battle with dementia caused by CTE, his family announced.

Smith, a beloved former San Diego Chargers linebacker who spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the franchise, died Wednesday while surrounded by loved ones.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Billy Ray Smith Jr., who passed away peacefully surrounded by family,” his family said in a statement.

“Billy Ray faced his long journey with dementia caused by CTE with unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength,” the statement continued. “Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend.”

His family said Smith earned deep respect both on the field and in the decades that followed as a sports broadcaster, adding that he cherished his teammates, colleagues and fans.

“He leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives,” the family said. “His undeniable legacy will live forever in our hearts, and we thank our incredible community for the outpouring of love and support.”

Smith’s death closes the chapter on a remarkable football life that stretched from Arkansas stardom to NFL glory and later to becoming a familiar voice and face in San Diego media.

Before he became a Chargers great, Smith followed in the footsteps of his father and starred at the University of Arkansas. He was named an All-American in both 1981 and 1982 and became one of the most dominant defensive players in Razorbacks history.

“I knew going into [the recruiting process] that I’m not going to leave Arkansas and go to another school unless they just blow me away and they didn’t,” Smith once told Pro Players Business Network.

Legendary Arkansas coach Lou Holtz once captured Smith’s athleticism with an unforgettable line: “Billy Ray is so quick he plays tennis with himself.”

Smith served as team captain in 1982 and helped lead Arkansas to a 9-2-1 record. He finished his college career with 299 tackles, including a staggering 63 tackles for loss.

The San Diego Chargers selected Smith with the fifth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, making him the first defensive player taken that year. He quickly became a fixture in San Diego, spending his entire professional career with the Chargers.

Smith’s best statistical season came in 1986, when he posted a career-high 11 sacks and forced four fumbles. A year later, despite playing only 12 games during the strike-shortened 1987 season, he intercepted a career-best five passes.

In 1989, Smith was named Second-Team All-Pro, further cementing his place as one of the franchise’s most respected defensive stars.

He also delivered one of the strangest and most memorable moments of his career during a 1985 exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints.

With injuries sidelining the Chargers’ regular kickers, Smith, who had not kicked since high school, was called into action. He made what appeared to be the game-winning field goal with four seconds left, only for it to be wiped out because he had tape on his kicking shoe. Smith simply tossed the shoe aside, lined up again, and drilled the kick with no time left to give San Diego a 21-20 win.

Off the field, Smith was just as active in the community. He worked with teammates to help create Bates Street, an after-school program for local children. He also met his wife, Kimberly Hunt, an ABC 10News anchor, during a United Cerebral Palsy telethon.

After retiring from football, Smith remained a San Diego staple through his television and radio work, becoming a trusted and familiar personality for local sports fans.

His honors continued long after his playing days. Smith was named to the Arkansas All-Decade Team and the Arkansas All-Century Team. He was also inducted into the Arkansas State Hall of Fame and the Razorback Hall of Honor.

In 2000, Smith became the sixth Razorbacks player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“The overriding feeling that I had was, ‘I wish I could bring all the guys that were in the huddle, that helped make me a consensus All-American,’” Smith told Pro Players Business Network. “Football is the ultimate team game. You feel a little bit uncomfortable getting so much praise. These guys need to be there and be with me when we do this but they can’t handle that many people at one celebration so I guess I’ll do it.”

In 2009, Chargers fans and the team’s Hall of Fame voted Smith one of the 50 greatest players in franchise history.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos paid tribute to Smith in an emotional statement, remembering him as far more than a football star.

“To know Billy Ray was to love Billy Ray. Yes, he was a member of our 50th Anniversary team. Yes, he was a Charger for life, playing his entire 10-year career here,” Spanos said.

“But he wasn’t merely a great football player. He was, truly, larger than life. Always smiling. Lighting up every room he walked into. Infectious laughter. The kind of friend a friend should be. That was Billy Ray.”

Spanos said Smith’s death was difficult to process because of the joy and kindness he brought to others.

“When someone who brought so much positivity into the world leaves us, it’s hard to process. Hard to accept. That’s how I feel right now, and I know I’m not alone,” he said.

“Billy Ray loved his family, loved the Chargers, loved his teammates, loved his community and loved helping those in need. And we all loved him back,” Spanos added.

“Our hearts are with his wife, Kimberly, daughter, Savannah and the countless people whose lives were made just a little bit brighter because they had the privilege of knowing Billy Ray.”

Smith is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and daughter, Savannah.