Billy Ray Smith Jr. Obituary
Updated: August 9, 2026 | Sources: Family’s Announcement
Billy Ray Smith Jr., the former San Diego Chargers linebacker, College Football Hall of Famer, and longtime San Diego sports broadcaster, died peacefully on July 29, 2026, at age 64, his family announced.
Smith’s family said he had faced a long battle with dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and described him as a devoted husband, father, son, and friend who confronted his illness with courage and dignity. He died surrounded by family.
From his championship years at Plano Senior High School and decorated career at the University of Arkansas to his 10 seasons with the Chargers and subsequent work in San Diego sports media, Smith built a legacy across football and broadcasting.
Born August 10, 1961, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Smith grew up in Plano, Texas, where his football career began to attract widespread attention. Smith is survived by his wife, Kimberly Hunt, and their daughter, Savannah.
He was a Plano state champion, a two-time All-American Arkansas Razorback, a first-round NFL draft pick, a 10-year San Diego Chargers linebacker, a College Football Hall of Famer
At Plano Senior High School, he was part of the 1977 state championship team. He later continued his career at the University of Arkansas, where he became one of the Razorbacks’ standout defensive players.
Arkansas records list Smith as a two-time All-American, earning recognition in both 1981 and 1982. He remains prominent in the school’s historical defensive records, including ranking first in career tackles for loss with 63.
His accomplishments eventually earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
The San Diego Chargers selected Smith fifth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, making him one of the highest-selected defensive players in that year’s class.
He spent his entire 10-season NFL career with the Chargers, establishing himself as a dependable presence on the team’s defense. Over 126 games, Smith recorded 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, and 13 forced fumbles, according to reporting following his death.
The Chargers’ historical statistics also document Smith’s production during individual seasons. In 1985, for example, he recorded 108 total tackles, while the team’s 1987 records show him leading the defense with 82 tackles and five interceptions.
Smith was later named to the Chargers’ 50th anniversary team, further cementing his place in the franchise’s history.
After retiring from the NFL, he moved into sports broadcasting and became a familiar voice and personality in San Diego sports media. He worked as a sports director at a San Diego ABC affiliate and later co-hosted a long-running radio program while continuing to cover football for television and other media outlets.
Smith’s decision to donate his brain reflects a broader effort among former athletes and their families to advance research into the long-term effects of repeated head impacts.
He will be remembered as a Chargers defensive standout, a Hall of Fame college football player, a respected broadcaster, and, above all, a beloved husband, father, friend, and member of the communities he called home.