Billy Ray Smith Jr., the former NFL linebacker, two-time All-American at the University of Arkansas, and longtime member of the San Diego sports community, has died at the age of 64.
Smith died on July 29, 2026, according to information provided by his family. His family said he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones following a long battle with dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head impacts.
His death brings an end to a life that stretched across several generations of football. Smith established himself as an elite defensive player during his years with the Arkansas Razorbacks, became a first-round NFL draft selection, spent his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers, and later remained a recognizable figure in San Diego through sports broadcasting and community involvement.
While his football accomplishments made him well known, those close to Smith also remembered the connections he maintained away from the field. His career eventually expanded from playing football to discussing it, giving him another opportunity to remain involved with the sport and the fans who had followed him for years.
The circumstances surrounding Smith’s health and death also highlight the lasting consequences that can accompany a career in football. According to his family, his dementia was caused by CTE. No additional medical details have been provided in the information available for this report.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Dies at 64
Smith died on July 29, 2026, at age 64.
His family said he was surrounded by loved ones and died peacefully after a prolonged battle with dementia attributed to chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head impacts, making the condition particularly relevant to Smith’s long career in football. However, the information provided does not include additional medical findings, a detailed timeline of his illness, or other specifics concerning his final days.
The announcement of his death has prompted an outpouring of memories from members of the football community and people who knew Smith through his work in San Diego. His career gave him a connection to fans in both Arkansas and California, while his later work in broadcasting allowed him to remain part of the sports community after his playing days ended.
For former teammates, coaches, fans and people who worked with him, Smith’s death represents the loss of someone whose connection to football continued well beyond his time as an active player.
Early Life in Arkansas and Texas
Smith was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a city closely associated with the University of Arkansas and its football program.
He later grew up in Plano, Texas, where he attended Plano High School. His development as a football player eventually led him back to his home state, where he joined the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
His time at Arkansas became the foundation for a distinguished football career. Smith emerged as one of the nation’s top defensive players and developed the reputation that would ultimately lead him to the highest level of professional football.
The progression from high school football in Texas to major college football in Arkansas was an important chapter in Smith’s athletic life. At Arkansas, he established himself not simply as a talented player but as a defensive standout whose performances earned national recognition.
A Standout Career With the Arkansas Razorbacks
Smith became one of the most accomplished defensive players in Arkansas football history.
As a linebacker for the Razorbacks, he earned two-time All-American honors, reflecting the level at which he performed during his college career. His reputation was built around qualities including strength, determination and defensive ability.
His success at Arkansas eventually received one of college football’s highest forms of recognition. In 2000, Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, formally acknowledging the impact he had made during his college career.
The Hall of Fame honor added another distinction to an already notable résumé and ensured that Smith’s accomplishments at Arkansas would remain part of the historical record of college football.
For Arkansas fans, his legacy is therefore tied not only to individual performances but also to the broader tradition of the Razorbacks’ football program. His All-American recognition and later Hall of Fame induction established him as one of the program’s prominent former players.
Smith’s college career also demonstrated the path that would take him into the NFL. His success at Arkansas attracted professional attention and ultimately resulted in his selection among the top players in the 1983 NFL Draft.
Fifth Overall Pick in the 1983 NFL Draft
The San Diego Chargers selected Smith fifth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft.
The selection marked the beginning of a professional career that would last a decade and keep Smith with the same organization throughout his time in the NFL.
Rather than moving between multiple franchises, Smith spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers. That longevity helped establish a particularly strong connection between the linebacker and the San Diego football community.
During his Chargers career, Smith became a standout linebacker and a respected presence within the organization. His professional years added another major chapter to a résumé that had already included All-American honors and recognition as one of college football’s top defensive players.
His time with the Chargers also made him familiar to generations of San Diego football fans. Teammates, coaches and supporters watched him build a reputation based on competitiveness and dedication to the game.
The combination of his draft status, decade-long tenure and role as a defensive leader made Smith an important part of the Chargers’ history during his playing years.
A Decade With the San Diego Chargers
Smith’s entire professional career was spent with the San Diego Chargers, giving the linebacker a rare level of continuity with one NFL organization.
Over the course of his 10 seasons, he became closely associated with San Diego football. His presence on the field helped make him a familiar figure to fans, while his approach to the game earned the respect of those around him.
The significance of that relationship continued after his retirement. Even after leaving professional football as a player, Smith did not leave the sport or the San Diego community behind.
Instead, he found another way to remain connected with football through broadcasting.
That transition allowed Smith to draw on his experience as a former NFL player and communicate with fans from a different position. Rather than analyzing the game solely from the perspective of an observer, he could offer insight informed by years spent competing at both the college and professional levels.
From NFL Linebacker to Sports Broadcaster
After retiring from professional football, Smith moved into sports broadcasting, becoming a familiar voice for local sports fans in San Diego.
One of the programs with which he became associated was “The Scott and B.R. Show,” a San Diego sports talk program that gave Smith an opportunity to share his football knowledge and perspective.
Broadcasting represented a natural continuation of Smith’s relationship with the sport. His playing career had given him firsthand experience, while his work behind the microphone allowed him to remain engaged with football and its audience.
For fans who had watched him as a Chargers linebacker, hearing Smith discuss sports offered another way to maintain that connection. His post-playing career demonstrated that his role in the local sports community did not end when he left the NFL.
Instead, his influence shifted from the football field to the broadcast studio and community.
Community Involvement Beyond Football
Smith’s connection to San Diego was not limited to professional football or sports media.
He was also remembered for community involvement and volunteer work, further extending his influence beyond his athletic career.
Those efforts became an important part of how Smith was viewed after his playing days. His legacy was not solely defined by draft position, All-American honors or his NFL career. His continued involvement in the community allowed him to remain connected with people throughout the region.
That distinction is especially important when considering the span of Smith’s life after football. He had already achieved recognition as a college and professional athlete, but he continued to participate in the community after stepping away from competitive play.
His work in broadcasting and volunteer activities gave him opportunities to interact with people in different settings and helped establish a legacy that reached beyond the statistics and accomplishments associated with his playing career.
The Impact of Smith’s Death on Arkansas and San Diego
Smith’s death affects two communities that played major roles in his life: Arkansas and San Diego.
In Arkansas, he is remembered as an accomplished Razorback whose college career earned him two-time All-American recognition and ultimately a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In San Diego, his legacy is connected to a decade with the Chargers, followed by years as a broadcaster and community participant.
That combination gave Smith a particularly broad connection to football fans. His story moved from high school football in Texas to college football in Arkansas, then to the NFL in San Diego and eventually to a second career communicating with sports fans.
As word of his death spread, members of the football community began reflecting on the different stages of his life. Some remembered the linebacker who competed on the field, while others knew the broadcaster and community member who remained active in San Diego after retirement.
For his family and those who knew him personally, however, his identity extended beyond those public accomplishments.
A Legacy That Extended Beyond the Football Field
Smith’s résumé includes many of the milestones that define a successful football career: All-American honors, a College Football Hall of Fame induction, a top-five NFL draft selection, and a decade in the NFL.
Yet the tributes surrounding his death also emphasize the personal relationships he developed throughout his life.
He was remembered as a teammate, broadcaster, community member and loved one, rather than simply as a former professional athlete.
That broader legacy reflects the length of time Smith remained connected to the people and communities around him. His football career introduced him to fans and teammates, while his broadcasting and community work allowed those relationships to continue after his playing career was over.
For Arkansas supporters, his name remains linked to the Razorbacks and his accomplishments as one of the program’s highly regarded defensive players. For San Diego fans, his association with the Chargers and later broadcasting career made him a familiar presence across decades.
His influence therefore crossed the traditional boundaries of an athletic career.
What Is Known About His Death
According to information provided by Smith’s family, he died on July 29, 2026, at the age of 64.
His family said the former linebacker had been battling dementia and attributed the condition to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The family also said Smith died peacefully while surrounded by loved ones.
Beyond those details, the information provided does not include additional medical information, specific circumstances from the final period of his life, or other details about his treatment or diagnosis.
Those distinctions are important because Smith’s death involves a medical condition for which only limited information has been publicly provided. The family’s statement establishes what they have said about his illness, but further medical details have not been supplied.
No information about funeral arrangements or a public memorial was included in the material provided.
Remembering Billy Ray Smith Jr.
Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s life brought together several important chapters of American football.
He began in Fayetteville, Arkansas, grew up in Plano, Texas, and eventually returned to Arkansas to play for the Razorbacks. His college career brought two-time All-American honors and later a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.
His success led to the 1983 NFL Draft, where the San Diego Chargers selected him fifth overall. Smith then spent all 10 seasons of his NFL career with the organization, becoming a recognizable linebacker and a respected member of the San Diego football community.
Retirement did not end his connection to sports. Through sports broadcasting, including his role on “The Scott and B.R. Show,” he continued sharing his football perspective with local audiences.
His community involvement added another dimension to his post-football life.
Now, following his death on July 29, 2026, Smith leaves behind a legacy that spans college football, professional football, broadcasting and community service.
For the University of Arkansas, he remains a celebrated former Razorback and College Football Hall of Famer. For San Diego, he will be remembered as a longtime Chargers linebacker and familiar sports voice. And for those who knew him away from football, his legacy rests in the relationships he built as a teammate, broadcaster, volunteer, friend and loved one.
The full details of his later health struggles and any memorial arrangements have not been provided. What remains clear from the information released by his family is that Smith’s life was deeply connected to football and to the people around him—and that his passing marks the loss of a figure whose influence continued long after his final NFL game.