# Billy Ray Smith Jr., former Chargers star, dies at 64; family links to CTE

Billy Ray Smith Jr., a former star linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, has died at age 64. His family stated that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) contributed to his death, underscoring the long-term risks of head injuries in football. Smith's passing adds to the growing number of NFL players diagnosed posthumously with the degenerative brain disease.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/30/billy-ray-smith-jr-death-cte) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:39:28 GMT
- [Fox News Sports](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/billy-ray-smith-top-5-nfl-draft-pick-dead-64-family-says-cte-caused-dementia) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:13:33 -0400