He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft.

He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders.

Smiley started his professional career on the San Francisco 49ers.

[1] On February 29, 2008, he was the first player of the 2008 offseason to sign with another team as an unrestricted free agent.

Smiley worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons at FCI Aliceville, Alabama, but has since resigned.