Joiner, who was born in Many, Louisiana, attended W. O. Boston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He didn't start playing football until his junior year, but he was an All-State receiver and received a scholarship to Grambling State University to play for coach Eddie Robinson. After one season, he returned home to sign with the Chicago Bears. He played only one game for the Bears before being released. From there, he went on to have a long career in the NFL as a wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. After his retirement from football, Joiner worked in real estate and owned several businesses in South Florida. In 1998, he was charged with first-degree murder after shooting two men outside a nightclub in Fort Lauderdale. He claimed self-defense and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He is currently incarcerated at North Broward Hospital Center in Pompano Beach. In 2004, Joiner filed a lawsuit against the Bears and their former quarterback, Mike Tomczak, alleging that they had been aware of his mental illness and failed to properly diagnose or treat him before releasing him. The case was settled out of court. Since then, he has tried to get back into football and has been granted many opportunities to do so with various teams but has never taken advantage of them. He most recently tried out for the Dallas Cowboys but wasn't offered a contract.