He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Davey O'Brien Award in 1999.

He signed with the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in 2004 and guided the team to a 9–5 record and the playoffs, despite suffering another knee injury and missing two and a half games.

He was then signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2004, reuniting with former Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, but only saw limited action in one game before being released during the season.

"[4] In 2008, following an arrest for a hit and run, DUI, open container and marijuana possession, Joe Hamilton resigned as a Georgia Tech assistant coach—less than two weeks after he was hired.

[6] On May 7, 2013, exactly 5 years after submitting his resignation, Hamilton was re-hired by Georgia Tech to provide assistance with recruiting for the Yellow Jackets football team.