Former Chargers Linebacker Billy Ray Smith Jr. Dies at 64, Family Announces
The former Chargers linebacker and broadcaster was remembered for decades of service in San Diego and for helping raise millions for local families.
- San Diego Chargers legend Billy Ray Smith Jr. died Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at age 64 following a battle with CTE-related dementia, his family announced.
- Selected 5th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, Smith spent his entire 10-year career with the Chargers, wearing #54 and recording 26.5 sacks across 137 games.
- After his playing career, Smith joined Channel 10 as sports director in 1993 and co-founded "Bates Street," an after-school program providing sports and activities for local kids.
- Chargers owner Dean Spanos honored Smith as "larger than life" and someone who "loved his community," while his wife, Kimberly Hunt, and daughter, Savannah, survive him.
- While his family attributed the dementia to CTE, the Mayo Clinic notes "there is no way to definitively diagnose during life," per medical guidance on the condition.
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Beloved NFL Linebacker Passes Away at 64, Family Shares Heartbreaking Details
Billy Ray Smith Jr., a prominent linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, has passed away at the age of 64. His family has revealed the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death. The post Beloved NFL Linebacker Passes Away at 64, Family Shares Heartbreaking Details appeared first on News Addicts.
NFL Legend Dead At 64; Family Reveals Tragic Cause
Billy Ray Smith Jr., the former San Diego Chargers linebacker who became one of the franchise’s most respected defensive stars before building a successful broadcasting career, has died at 64. His family announced Wednesday that Billy Ray Smith Jr. died after battling dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. “It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of our beloved Billy Ray Smith Jr., who passed away peacefully surr…
Former Chargers star Billy Ray Smith Jr. dies at 64. His family blames CTE.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. became embedded in the San Diego sports community as an exceptional linebacker who lived up to his billing as a first-round draft pick and played all of his 126 NFL games with the Chargers from 1983…
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