Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Billy Ray Smith, a top-5 NFL draft pick and College Football Hall of Famer, has passed away at the age of 64, his family announced, revealing that he endured a prolonged battle with dementia directly linked to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE, a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head impacts, has been posthumously diagnosed in over 100 former NFL players, according to a University of Utah study. Smith’s family described him as a source of immense joy and laughter, highlighting his bravery and dignity in facing his illness, and noted that his cause of death is pending while his brain will be donated for CTE research, joining other former athletes whose families have made similar arrangements amidst growing awareness of the condition’s impact on players’ lives.
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