Billy Ray Smith Jr dies at 64; family cites 'dementia caused by CTE'

Billy Ray Smith Jr, the former San Diego Chargers linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 64. His family said in a statement Wednesday that he had suffered from 'dementia caused by CTE'.

Smith built a reputation as a prominent defensive player during a professional career that spanned a decade. He played 10 NFL seasons and was later honored as a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The announcement of his death was shared publicly by his family in a written statement on Wednesday.

In the family statement, his relatives said Smith died following a bout with CTE-caused dementia. The statement included the phrase 'dementia caused by CTE' to describe the condition he faced, attributing his cognitive decline to chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Over the course of his decade in the National Football League, Smith spent his time at the linebacker position and was associated with the San Diego Chargers at the professional level. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame recognized his accomplishments at the collegiate level prior to his NFL tenure. Those career markers — linebacker with the Chargers and Hall of Fame membership — were highlighted as part of his legacy.

Smith was 64 at the time of his death, according to his family. The report of his passing was published on July 30, 2026, alongside the family’s statement detailing the CTE-related diagnosis. The family’s disclosure combined the factual announcement of his death with information about the neurological illness he experienced.

Smith’s family issued the public notice on Wednesday, describing his final years as affected by what they called 'dementia caused by CTE'. Their statement conveyed both the cause they attributed to his decline and the fact of his death at 64.