Billy Ray Smith Jr. Passes Away at 64
Billy Ray Smith Jr., a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, passed away on Wednesday after a prolonged battle with dementia due to CTE, as confirmed by his family.
He was 64 years old.
In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed, “It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our beloved Billy Ray Smith Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.” They noted that he faced his challenges with CTE dementia with extraordinary courage and strength.
“Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend,” they added.
During his decade with the Chargers and his later work in sports broadcasting, Smith earned significant respect from teammates, colleagues, and fans. His family reminisced, “He left an irreplaceable void in our lives, and his undeniable legacy will live on in our hearts forever. We appreciate the overwhelming support from our community.”
Following in his father’s footsteps, Smith excelled at the University of Arkansas, earning All-American honors in 1981 and 1982. He once remarked about his recruitment, “I knew going in there, I’m not leaving Arkansas for another school unless they surprise me.”
Lou Holtz, former coach at the University of Arkansas, praised Smith’s speed, saying, “Billy Ray is very fast, so he plays tennis by himself.” As a team captain in 1982, he led the Razorbacks to a strong 9-2-1 record, compiling 299 tackles, with 63 being for a loss.
In the 1983 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected Smith with the fifth overall pick, making him the first defensive player chosen that year. He spent his entire ten-season NFL career with San Diego.
In 1986, Smith achieved a career-high of 11 sacks and forced four fumbles. The next year, he intercepted five passes, despite being limited to only 12 games due to a players’ strike. He also received second-team All-Pro honors in 1989.
One memorable moment occurred in a 1985 exhibition game against the Saints when he unexpectedly kicked the game-winning field goal. The regular kicker was sidelined with a groin injury, and although his initial field goal was ruled out due to tape on his shoe, Smith ultimately succeeded with no time left, leading to a dramatic 21-20 victory.
Active in the community, Smith helped establish Bates Street, an after-school program for local children. He met his wife, ABC 10News anchor Kimberly Hunt, during a telethon for cerebral palsy.
After retiring from football, he became a well-known television and radio figure in San Diego. Smith was recognized on multiple prestigious lists, including the Arkansas All-Decade Team and the Arkansas All-Century Team, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Reflecting on his career, he stated, “The strongest feeling I had was, ‘I wish I could have taken all the players that were in the huddle, so I could be a consensus All-American.’ Soccer is the ultimate team game.”
In 2009, he was honored as one of the Chargers’ 50 greatest players. Chargers owner Dean Spanos shared, “To know Billy Ray was to love Billy Ray… He lit up every room he entered.” Spanos admitted it’s hard to grasp the loss, saying, “When someone who brought so much positivity to the world leaves us, it’s hard to process.”
Spanos concluded, “Billy Ray loved his family, the Chargers, his teammates, and his community, and we all loved him back.” Smith is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter, Savannah.
