Billy Ray Smith Jr. was an American footballer and broadcaster whose name became inseparable from San Diego across two careers, first as a hard-hitting, quick-witted linebacker for the Chargers, and then as one of the city’s most cherished sports-media voices. The son of an NFL veteran and a College Football Hall of Famer in his own right, he brought rare intelligence to the field and irrepressible charm to the airwaves. He passed away on 29 July 2026, aged 64, with his family saying his death was the result of dementia brought on by CTE.
Billy Ray Smith Jr Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Billy Ray Smith Jr. |
| Known As | B.R. |
| Born | 10 August 1961 |
| Died | 29 July 2026 (aged 64) |
| Birthplace | Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States |
| Raised In | Plano, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) |
| Weight | Around 231 pounds (105 kg) |
| Occupation | Football player and sports broadcaster |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Number | 54 |
| Pro Career | San Diego Chargers, 1983 to 1992 |
| High School | Plano Senior High School, Texas |
| College | University of Arkansas (1979 to 1982) |
| Draft | 1983, first round, fifth overall pick |
| Father | Billy Ray Smith Sr., former NFL player |
| Spouse | Kimberly Hunt, San Diego news anchor |
| Hall of Fame | College Football Hall of Fame (2000) |
Billy Ray Smith Jr Honours and Career Numbers
| Category | Detail |
| Games for the Chargers | Roughly 126 to 137, his entire NFL output |
| Sacks | 26.5 |
| Interceptions | 15 |
| Fumbles recovered | 14 |
| All-American | Unanimous selection in both 1981 and 1982 |
| College trophy | Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy (1982) |
| Pro recognition | Second-team All-Pro (1989); Chargers 50th Anniversary Team |
| Team awards | Chargers MVP (1987); team defensive player of the year (1985, 1986) |
Billy Ray Smith Jr Career
| Year | Milestone |
| 10 August 1961 | Born in Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| 1977 | Won a Texas state title with Plano Senior High School |
| 1979 to 1982 | Became a two-time All-American at Arkansas |
| 1983 | Chosen fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers |
| 1983 to 1992 | Played all ten of his pro seasons in San Diego |
| 2000 | Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame |
| After football | Spent decades as a San Diego broadcaster |
| 29 July 2026 | Died at the age of 64 |
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Early Life and Football Family
Billy Ray Smith Jr. entered the world on 10 August 1961 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the son of a professional footballer, and the game was in his blood from the start. His father, Billy Ray Smith Sr., enjoyed a long NFL career as a defensive lineman and lifted the Super Bowl trophy, having first made his name at the University of Arkansas. Raised in Plano, Texas, the younger Smith turned into a schoolboy standout, powering Plano Senior High School to a Class 4A state crown in 1977 in front of a then-record crowd, an achievement later recognised with a place in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s Father
His father, Billy Ray Smith Sr., spent thirteen years in the NFL and won a championship with the Baltimore Colts, laying down a family standard that his son would carry forward to Arkansas and into the professional game.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. College Years
Retracing his father’s steps, Billy Ray Smith Jr. enrolled at the University of Arkansas and blossomed into one of the finest defenders the Razorbacks had ever produced. Under coach Lou Holtz he was recognised as a unanimous All-American in both 1981 and 1982 and captained the 1982 team that closed the year strongly and triumphed in the Bluebonnet Bowl. His collegiate brilliance brought him the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy and, years later in 2000, a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. in the NFL
The San Diego Chargers made Billy Ray Smith Jr. the fifth overall selection in the 1983 draft, the very first defender chosen that year, and he rewarded them with a decade of loyal service, never wearing another team’s colours. An instinctive, long-limbed linebacker with a knack for being around the ball, he served as the cornerstone of the Chargers’ defence. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1987 after earning its top defensive honours in both 1985 and 1986, with the latter campaign producing his career-best sack total. His standout play also brought second-team All-Pro recognition in 1989. By the time he retired, he had accumulated 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries. In 2009 the franchise voted him onto its 50th Anniversary Team, a fitting acknowledgement of his place among its greats. In his later seasons he lined up alongside the future Hall of Famer Junior Seau, beginning a friendship that endured well beyond their playing days.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. as a Broadcaster
When his playing career ended, Billy Ray Smith Jr. reinvented himself with remarkable success, spending decades as a familiar and much-loved voice in San Diego sports media. He went on to co-host a morning television programme before becoming a familiar voice on a popular afternoon radio show. He also worked as a national college football analyst, hosted a Chargers-centred broadcast, and served as a local sports broadcaster. His humour, generosity of spirit and outsized personality made him a fixture in living rooms and car radios across the region, and cemented his identity as a San Diego institution long after he had hung up his cleats.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Personal Life
Though born in Arkansas and raised in Texas, Billy Ray Smith Jr. made San Diego his permanent home, and he was married to the veteran local news anchor Kimberly Hunt. Beyond his fame as a player and broadcaster, he was remembered as a devoted family man and a committed philanthropist who gave generously of his time, including to a foundation that supported military families. Friends and colleagues recalled a man whose warmth and laughter touched everyone around him.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Height and Physical Profile
Standing 6 feet 3 inches, or 1.91 metres, and playing at roughly 231 pounds, Billy Ray Smith Jr. paired genuine size and athletic ability with a football mind widely regarded as one of the sharpest of his generation, a combination that made him such an effective defender.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Net Worth and Earnings
There is no dependable public figure for Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s net worth, and this profile offers none. His livelihood came from his ten seasons in the NFL and the many years of broadcasting that followed, and his true legacy rests in his impact on the game, on San Diego media and on his community rather than in any recorded sum.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented |
| Primary income | His NFL playing career and long broadcasting career |
Billy Ray Smith Jr. Death and Tributes
Billy Ray Smith Jr. died on 29 July 2026 at the age of 64. His family shared that he had passed away peacefully with loved ones at his side, and that he had confronted a long battle with dementia caused by CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with what they called extraordinary courage, dignity and strength. They described a man who filled the world with joy and laughter and who was, above all, a loving father, husband, son and friend.
The news brought a wave of tributes from across San Diego and the football community, as former teammates, broadcast partners and generations of fans mourned a figure who had been part of the city’s fabric for more than four decades. His passing also drew fresh attention to the impact of CTE on former players, a condition that had claimed other Chargers figures, including his old teammate Junior Seau.
Lesser Known Facts About Billy Ray Smith Jr.
- His father was an NFL player and Super Bowl winner, also an Arkansas alumnus.
- He led his Plano high school to a Texas state championship in 1977.
- He was twice named a unanimous All-American under coach Lou Holtz.
- He was the very first defensive player taken in the 1983 NFL Draft.
- Every one of his ten pro seasons was played for the San Diego Chargers.
- He forged a second career as a beloved San Diego broadcaster.
- His wife, Kimberly Hunt, is a longtime San Diego news anchor.
Billy Ray Smith Jr. FAQ
Who was Billy Ray Smith Jr.?
He was an American linebacker who played his whole NFL career with the San Diego Chargers and went on to become a treasured San Diego sports broadcaster and a College Football Hall of Famer.
When was Billy Ray Smith Jr. born, and when did he die?
He was born on 10 August 1961 and died on 29 July 2026, aged 64.
What caused Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s death?
According to his family, he died from dementia caused by CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Which team did Billy Ray Smith Jr. play for?
Chosen fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1983 NFL Draft, he spent all ten seasons of his professional career with the franchise.
Where did Billy Ray Smith Jr. go to college?
He attended the University of Arkansas, earning unanimous All-American honours twice.
Is Billy Ray Smith Jr. in a Hall of Fame?
Yes, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Who was Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s father?
His father was Billy Ray Smith Sr., a former NFL defensive lineman and Super Bowl champion.
What did Billy Ray Smith Jr. do after his playing days?
He spent decades as a San Diego sports broadcaster across television and radio.
Who is Billy Ray Smith Jr.’s wife?
He was married to Kimberly Hunt, a San Diego news anchor.
Where was Billy Ray Smith Jr. from?
A native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, he spent his childhood growing up in
Sources
NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego Chargers legend Billy Ray Smith Jr. dies at 64,
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/chargers-legend-billy-ray-smith-dies-at-64/4054911/
Yahoo Sports, Former Chargers star Billy Ray Smith Jr. dies at 64. His family blames CTE,
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-chargers-star-billy-ray-170542890.html
That Eric Alper, Billy Ray Smith Jr., Chargers Linebacker and San Diego Broadcaster, Dies at 64,
https://www.thatericalper.com/2026/07/30/billy-ray-smith-jr-chargers-linebacker-and-san-diego-broadcaster-dies-at-64/
ABC 10 News San Diego, Chargers legend Billy Ray Smith Jr. passes away,
https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/chargers-legend-billy-ray-smith-jr-passes-away