Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Billy Ray Smith Jr. has died at age 64, multiple outlets report. His family announced the death on Wednesday in a statement. Smith played his entire NFL career with the Chargers and spent 10 seasons in the league. Newsweek describes him as an All-Pro linebacker, and Yahoo Sports notes he remained a fixture in San Diego, including later work as a Chargers analyst.
According to Yahoo Sports, the family statement says Smith died following a bout with dementia that the family attributes to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Other reports also cite the family’s announcement but provide fewer details about the cause of death.
Sources broadly agree on Smith’s identity, his Chargers tenure, his age at death, and that his family made the announcement. Coverage also reflects his standing within the Chargers organization and his recognition as a standout player during his playing days.
