 Smith played professional football for Masillon Tigers in 1919 and for the Buffalo All-Americans in the fledgling National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association) from 1920 to 1921 and in 1923.In 1920, the first season of the NFL's existence, Smith led Buffalo with four touchdowns.Though individual records from the 1920 NFL season are difficult to verify, sources indicate that Smith's 24 points placed him as either the second or third leading scorer in the league.