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Former Chargers Star Billy Ray Smith Jr. Dies, CTE-linked Dementia

7/30/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Billy Ray Smith Jr. died on July 29 at 64 after a dementia battle linked to CTE.
He was the Chargers’ No. 5 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft.
He played ten seasons (1983-1992) with San Diego, appearing in 126 games and recording 26.5 sacks.
After retiring he became KGTV sports director, co-hosted “Scott and B.R.” and co-founded the Great Friends Foundation.

History

Historical Context

After Bennet Omalu’s 2005 Neurosurgery paper identified CTE in former lineman Mike Webster, research at Boston University’s CTE Center expanded to over 300 autopsies, finding 110 of 111 NFL brains positive for the disease (2017). The NFL Players Association’s push for stricter concussion rules now includes recent posthumous diagnoses such as former Chargers tackle Billy Ray Smith Jr.

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Story summary

Billy Ray Smith Jr. died on July 29 at 64 after a dementia battle linked to CTE.
He was the Chargers’ No. 5 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft.
He played ten seasons (1983-1992) with San Diego, appearing in 126 games and recording 26.5 sacks.
After retiring he became KGTV sports director, co-hosted “Scott and B.R.” and co-founded the Great Friends Foundation.

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