RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sources0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Billy Ray Smith Jr., a cornerstone of the San Diego Chargers' defense throughout the 1980s before becoming one of the city's most recognizable sports media personalities, died Wednesday after a lengthy battle with dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ). He was 64.
Smith spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Chargers after the franchise selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, the first defensive player chosen that year.
Smith arrived in San Diego with one of the most decorated résumés in college football , having earned unanimous All-America honors twice at Arkansas, where he set a school record for tackles for loss and later was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 .
The son of longtime NFL linebacker Billy Ray Smith Sr., Smith quickly established himself as a fixture in the Chargers' defense. He played in 140 games from 1983-92, recording 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries while earning second-team All-AFC honors twice and second-team All-Pro recognition in 1989.
Smith was voted the Chargers' Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1986, team MVP in 1987, and was later named one of the franchise's 50 Greatest Players.
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After retiring following the 1992 season, Smith remained in San Diego and transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a familiar voice and face for local sports fans.
Smith worked as a television sports anchor for KGTV, contributed to Chargers preseason broadcasts, served as a college football analyst for Fox Sports, and co-hosted "The Scott and B.R. Show" on XX Sports Radio 1090, one of the region's most popular sports talk programs. His broadcasting career kept him closely connected to the franchise and the community long after his playing days ended.
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Smith's family announced that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after facing dementia caused by CTE "with unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength."
Beyond football, Smith was known as a husband, father and longtime community figure. He is survived by his wife, KGTV anchor Kimberly Hunt, and their family. For many Chargers fans, Smith's legacy spans two careers: first as the intelligent linebacker who anchored the Chargers' defense, then as the broadcaster whose voice remained synonymous with football in the city for decades.
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