Rod Smith is a former professional wide receiver. Smith enjoyed a stellar career at Missouri Southern State University, finishing with conference records in career receiving yards and touchdowns. He also broke the school’s reception record, and was named first-team All-America by AP, Kodak, Football Gazette and NCAA Division II sports information directors after his senior year.

Smith played 13 seasons for the NFL’s Denver Broncos. He was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent and played his entire career with the team. As of 2021's offseason, his 849 career receptions and 11,389 receiving yards ranked him 34th and 34th all-time. In his NFL career, Smith had eight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He had two seasons of at least 100 receptions. In 2000, Smith and teammate Ed McCaffrey became the second wide receiver duo on the same team to each gain 100 receptions in the same season. He led the league with 113 receptions in 2001. He also started for Denver's back to back Super Bowl championships in '97 and '98. 

In May 2012, it was announced that he would be inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in his first year of eligibility for the honor. He is a business entrepreneur as he has expressed in many interviews, some with his kids in them speaking about their father's accomplishments on and off the field.