Taysom Hill

Taysom Shawn Hill (born August 23, 1990) is an American professional football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars as a quarterback and signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Hill was released during final roster cuts and signed with the Saints shortly afterwards. Noted for his versatility, Hill has held the official positions of quarterback and tight end while also performing various other offensive and special teams roles. He is known as "the Human Swiss Army Knife" by the media.

Early life

Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, Hill lettered in football, basketball, and track at Highland High School and graduated in 2009. As a senior, he threw for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,491 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning the All-Idaho Player of the Year, Idaho Gatorade High School Player of the Year, First Team All-State selection, and All-Region and All-Conference Player of the Year accolades. He holds the school single-season and career records for total offense.

In track, Hill competed in the 200 meters and long jump. As a sophomore at the 2007 5A District IV/V/VI Regional Meet, he recorded a personal-best time of 22.5 seconds in the 200 m, placing third, and ran the fourth leg on the 4 × 200 m relay squad, helping the Rams to 1:31.41 and a first-place finish. As a senior, Hill won the long jump event at the 2009 5A Regional Meet, with a mark of 6.85 m (22 ft 5+11⁄16 in).

College career

Coming out of high school in 2009, Hill had multiple offers from programs in the west, including University of Arizona, Boise State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University, University of Utah, Stanford University, and Brigham Young University.

Heavily recruited by head coach Jim Harbaugh, Hill had originally committed to Stanford out of high school, but after returning from his LDS church mission, he enrolled in January at BYU after learning Stanford did not allow incoming freshmen to join the team until June.

As a freshman in 2012, Hill was number two on the quarterback depth chart. He was initially brought in for special packages to utilize his athleticism in short-yardage situations. His first pass as a college player was an 18-yard touchdown against Washington State in the Cougars' season opener. Hill played in 6 games in 2012, starting and winning two games near midseason before suffering a season ending knee injury in the closing seconds of a victory over Utah State.

Hill was named the Cougars' full-time starter for the 2013 season. After a tough 19–16 loss in the season opener at Virginia, he bounced back the following week against Texas, with 259 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 40–21 win. Hill also recorded 417 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and added 194 rushing yards in a 47–46 victory over Houston.

In 2014, Hill started the season well and led the team to a 4–0 record (including another lopsided win over Texas where he rushed for 134 yards and once again scored three touchdowns) before suffering a fractured leg against Utah State on October 3, which ended his season.

Injury again struck Hill at the start of the 2015 season, when he suffered a lisfranc fracture during the Cougars' opener against Nebraska on September 5. After the game, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that the injury would cost Hill the rest of the season.

As a result, Hill was granted a medical redshirt for 2015, making him eligible to return for one final season in 2016. On February 16, Hill announced that he would be returning to BYU in 2016 rather than pursuing options to play at another school as a graduate transfer. On August 23, his 26th birthday, Hill was named the starting quarterback over sophomore Tanner Mangum, who had started after Hill's injury in 2015. For the 2016 season, Hill changed his jersey number from 4 to 7 to honor his late older brother, Dexter, who died in the spring of that year.

Late in 2016, Hill suffered a fourth season ending injury. In the Cougars' regular season finale against in-state rival Utah State on November 26, he left the game with a hyperextended elbow in the fourth quarter and subsequently missed the Cougars' bowl game.

Statistics

Professional career

Pre-draft

Hill showed impressive athletic ability at BYU's pro day. His 40-yard dash of 4.44 seconds and 38.5-inch (0.98m) vertical jump would have finished first among all participating quarterbacks at the 2017 NFL Combine, beating Texas A&M's Trevor Knight's 4.54-second 40-yard dash and 35.5 inches (0.90 m) vertical.

Green Bay Packers

Hill went undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, but signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent on May 5. He appeared in three preseason games with them, completing 14 of 20 passes, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. Hill was released during final roster cuts on September 2.

New Orleans Saints

2017 season

On September 3, 2017, Hill was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints. He was promoted to the active roster on December 3 and appeared in a total of 12 special teams plays against the Carolina Panthers. In his NFL debut, Hill recorded two special teams tackles on Panthers kick returner Fozzy Whittaker.

2018 season

Hill was listed as the third-string quarterback to start 2018 season, but was used in a variety of positions throughout the Saints' season, including as their primary kick returner.

During Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on September 16, he returned his first kick 47 yards in the 21–18 victory. In the next game against the Atlanta Falcons, he had his most versatile performance in his NFL career. On special teams, Hill returned three kicks for 64 yards and made a tackle on a punt. On offense, he rushed the ball thrice for 39 yards and was often used as a tight end to block defenders. The following week against the New York Giants, Hill completed his first NFL pass on a fake punt for 10 yards. He also rushed four times for 28 yards, continuing to line up at receiver on offense and still being the primary kick returner.

During Week 5 against the Washington Redskins, Hill rushed five times for 24 yards, including his first NFL touchdown run in a 43–19 victory. Three weeks later against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, Hill set up the Saints' first touchdown of the game by completing a 44-yard pass to Michael Thomas, for his second pass completion of the year in the 30–20 road victory. During Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hill blocked a punt from Bryan Anger, which led to a touchdown that propelled the Saints to a 28–14 comeback road victory, enabling them to clinch the division title. Hill was named National Football Conference (NFC) Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

Hill finished the season with 37 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns, three receptions for four yards, and passed for 64 yards and an interception. He also had 14 kickoff returns for 348 net yards for a 24.86 average.

In the Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hill made a key play as a utility player, running for a first down on a fake punt to begin the Saints' comeback victory. During the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught a touchdown in the controversial 26–23 overtime loss.

2019 season

During the narrow season-opening 30–28 victory over the Houston Texans, Hill rushed twice for eight yards and caught a nine-yard touchdown. In Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, Hill rushed twice for 21 yards and caught a screen pass for a four-yard touchdown during the 36–25 road victory. The following week, Hill saw his playing time increase as Drew Brees returned from injury and caught a career high three passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in the 31–9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

During a Week 13 26–18 road victory over the Falcons on Thanksgiving, Hill blocked a punt, rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, and caught a three-yard touchdown. With his fourth touchdown reception of the year, Hill broke the record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season. Two weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, Hill caught two passes for 42 yards, including the 541st career touchdown pass thrown by Drew Brees, in the 34–7 victory.

During the Wild Card Round against the Vikings, Hill had consecutive plays of 11-yard rushing for first down, 50-yard passing followed by a block that enabled a four-yard rushing touchdown by Alvin Kamara in a drive. Hill accumulated 50 yards rushing, 50 yards passing, and 25 yards receiving, including a touchdown late in the game. They ultimately fell to the Vikings 26–20 in overtime.

2020 season

In March 2020, the Saints placed a first round restricted free agent tender on Hill worth $4.641 million. On April 26, Hill re-signed with the Saints to a two-year deal worth $16.3 million, an extension to the first-round restricted free agent tender placed on Hill, to bring the total deal up to around $21 million.