Going unselected in the 1994 NFL Draft despite shattering records at Division II Missouri Southern State, Rod Smith entered the league as a complete longshot. He spent his entire rookie year on the practice squad and operated strictly as a depth option for his first two active seasons in Denver, but he quietly refined his route running while waiting for his moment.

His breakthrough arrived in 1997, when he earned a starting role and became a favorite target for John Elway. Smith delivered a huge campaign with 70 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping drive Denver to its first world championship in Super Bowl XXXII. He backed it up in 1998 with another 1,222 receiving yards, saving his defining moment for Super Bowl XXXIII, where he hauled in an iconic 80-yard touchdown strike from Elway en route to a 152-yard performance that sealed back-to-back titles.

After Elway retired, Smith seamlessly became the veteran anchor of the offense, serving as the go-to target through quarterback transitions to Brian Griese and Jake Plummer. From 1997 through 2002, he logged six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. His individual dominance peaked with consecutive Second-Team All-Pro selections in 2000 and 2001; he set a franchise record with 1,602 receiving yards in 2000 alongside Ed McCaffrey, then led the entire NFL with 113 catches in 2001.

Smith hit the 1,000-yard mark twice more in 2004 and 2005, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection in 2005 while becoming the first undrafted wide receiver in NFL history to break the 10,000-yard barrier. His precise footwork, relentless run-blocking, and incredible consistency helped him record 70 or more catches in nine consecutive seasons.

A severe hip injury sustained in 2006 eventually ended his playing days after the 2007 offseason. As a Bronco, Smith played in 183 games, leaving as the organization's all-time leader in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), and touchdown catches (68), while adding 860 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the postseason. The Broncos inducted their self-made star into the Ring of Fame in 2012.