Taysom Shawn Hill (born August 23, 1990)[1] is an American professional footballutility player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Hill is officially designated as a tight end, having been designated as a quarterback for the first five and the seventh seasons of his career and a tight end in his sixth year. Hill's array of utilization has earned him a reputation as a unique player in the NFL.[2][3] Due to his versatility, he is known as "the Human Swiss Army Knife" by Saints' media.[4][5][6]
Hill played college football at BYU as a quarterback and was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL draft. Waived after the preseason, he signed with the Saints' practice squad before being elevated to the active roster, and was a regular on special teams by the end of his rookie season. During the offseason, his role in the team's offense expanded and he began to play other positions in 2018 such as running back, tight end, wide receiver, and kick returner, along with occasional usage as a quarterback. He has maintained similar roles on offense and special teams throughout his career, including as the Saints primary gunner.[7][8][9]
Early life
Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, Hill lettered in football, basketball, and track at Highland High School and graduated in 2009.[10] 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.[11]
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.[12] As a senior, he won the long jump event at the 2009 5A Regional Meet, with a mark of 6.85 m (22 ft 5+11⁄16 in).[13]
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.[14][15]
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.[16] 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.[17][18]
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.[19] Hill also recorded 417 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and added 194 rushing yards in a 47–46 victory over Houston.[20]
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.[21]
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.[22] After the game, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that the injury would cost Hill the rest of the season.[22]
As a result, Hill was granted a medical redshirt for 2015, making him eligible to return for one final season in 2016.[23] On February 16, he announced that he would be returning to BYU in 2016 rather than pursuing options to play at another school as a graduate transfer.[24] 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.[25] 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.[23][26]
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.[27]
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.[28]
Hill went undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, but signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent on May 5.[30] He appeared in three preseason games with them, completing 14 of 20 passes, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.[31] He was released during the Packers final roster cut-down on September 2, 2017.[32]
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 as the Saints won 21–18. The next week against the Atlanta Falcons, he had his most versatile performance in his NFL career.[35] On special teams, Hill returned three kicks for 64 yards and made a tackle on a punt. On offense, he rushed the ball three times for 39 yards and was often used as a tight end to block defenders.[36][37] In the next game 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.[38] Against the Washington Redskins, Hill rushed five times for 24 yards, including his first NFL touchdown run in a 43–19 victory.[39] In a 30–20 Sunday Night Football road victory against the Minnesota Vikings on October 28, 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.[40] During Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he blocked a punt from Bryan Anger, which led to a touchdown that propelled the Saints to a come from behind 28–14 road victory, enabling them to clinch the division title. He was named National Football Conference (NFC) Special Teams Player of the Week.[41][42]
Hill finished the season with 37 carries for 196 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, three receptions for four yards, and passed for 64 yards and an interception. In addition, he had 14 kickoff returns for 348 net yards for a 24.86 average.[43]
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.[44] In the NFC Championship, against the Los Angeles Rams, Hill recorded a touchdown reception in the 26–23 overtime loss.[45]
2019 season
In the season opener against the Houston Texans, Hill rushed twice for eight yards and caught a nine-yard touchdown in the narrow 30–28 victory.[46] In Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, Hill rushed twice for 21 yards and caught a screen pass for a four-yard touchdown in the 36–25 road victory.[47] The next 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 win against the Arizona Cardinals.[48] In Week 13 against the Falcons on Thanksgiving, Hill blocked a punt, rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, and caught a three-yard touchdown pass in the 26–18 road victory. With his fourth touchdown reception of the year, Hill broke the record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season.[49][50] In Week 15 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, during the 34–7 win.[51] In 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.[52] 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.[53]
2020 season
In March 2020, the Saints placed a first round restricted free agent tender on Hill worth $4.641 million.[54] 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.[55][56]
On November 20, 2020, it was announced that Hill would make his first career start at quarterback for the Saints Week 11 matchup against the Falcons due to Drew Brees’ injury.[57] Hill threw 23 passes, completing 18 for 233 yards. He also ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Saints beat the Falcons 24–9.[58] In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, he recorded another game with two rushing touchdowns in the 31–3 victory.[59] In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, he had 232 passing yards and his first two career passing touchdowns in the 21–16 victory.[60] His last start of the season came in Week 14, where despite a two touchdown, 291 yard passing performance, the team would lose to the Eagles 24–21.[61]
2021 season
On March 14, 2021, the same day that starting quarterback Drew Brees announced his retirement, Hill signed a 4-year, $40 million extension with the Saints. The contract was structured in such a way as to free up salary cap space for New Orleans, saving them $7.75 million against the 2021 cap.[62] He lost the 2021 Saints starting quarterback job to Jameis Winston.[63]
During the first half of the 2021 season, Hill spent the year as the third string quarterback on the depth chart behind Jameis Winston and Trevor Siemian, though he continued in his role as a utility player, appearing in six of the first nine games as a runner, receiver, passer, and on special teams. After a four-game losing streak, Hill was named to the starting quarterback role prior to a Week 13 Thursday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys. Though he led the team in rushing with 101 yards on eleven carries, he threw four interceptions to only two touchdowns, and the team lost 27–17.[64] He fared better the next week against the New York Jets, going 15-for-21 for 175 yards and a 96.3 passer rating, as well as rushing for 73 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–9 blowout win.[65]
Hill signed an additional contract extension with the Saints on November 22, 2021, that gave him $22.5 million in guaranteed money.[66] The contract held provisions with potential to reach a maximum value of $95 million over its duration.[67] On January 9, 2022, Hill suffered a Lisfranc injury in a game against the Falcons,[68] an injury that later required surgery.[69]
2022 season
New head coach Dennis Allen changed Hill's primary position from quarterback to tight end in March 2022. After the team re-signed Jameis Winston and picked up veteran Andy Dalton, it was decided that better use could be made of Hill's skill set as a tight end. Hill was expected to play as a motion tight end, flexed back from the line of scrimmage.[70]
Although Hill began the season listed as a tight end on the Saints' depth chart, he primarily took snaps at quarterback in the wildcat formation to begin the season and would operate primarily as a rusher throughout the year. Hill generated 81 yards and a touchdown on four rushes against the Falcons in Week 1 from this position.[71]
Hill sat out Week 3 with a rib injury and returned in Week 4 against the Vikings.[72] He took snaps at quarterback, rotating with Andy Dalton. From the quarterback position, Hill scored his second touchdown of the season on a goal line play out of a shotgun formation. Hill also took snaps while positioned at wide receiver.[73]
On October 9, Hill had one of the best statistical games of his career against the Seattle Seahawks, scoring a career-high four touchdowns in a 39–32 win. In total, he recorded nine carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns (including a go-ahead 60-yard touchdown run), completed his only pass for a 22-yard score, and recovered a fumble on special teams.[74] For his performance, Hill was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[75]
Hill scored his first receiving touchdown of the season in Week 7 against the Cardinals and completed both of his pass attempts for 48 yards.[76] On the broadcast, longtime NFL play-by-play announcer Al Michaels referred to Hill as “Slash+” in reference to former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart, who performed a similar role as Hill early in his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[citation needed]
In Week 14 against the Buccaneers, Hill recorded two pass receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown. He added 10 yards on three carries and completed his only pass attempt for 22 yards. Hill took snaps at four different positions on offense in addition to his snaps taken on special teams.[77]
Despite his depth chart categorization at a pass catching position, Hill set new career highs for rushing attempts, rushing yards and yards per carry while totaling 9 receptions for 77 yards on 13 targets.[78]
2023 season
After a season of categorization at tight end on the Saints depth chart, Hill was moved back to his original position of quarterback. Pundits speculated that this was done to take advantage of the NFL's newly implemented emergency third quarterback rule.[79][80][81][82] He finished the 2023 season with 81 carries for 401 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Hill achieved new career highs in several receiving statistics, recording 33 receptions for 291 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[83]
Facing the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, Hill became the second player in the Super Bowl era to record 8 catches, 130 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in a single game, totaling 206 scrimmage yards. He shares the distinction with LaDainian Tomlinson, who logged a similar stat line in 2002.[85] In Week 13, Hill suffered a season-ending torn ACL during the matchup against Los Angeles Rams.[86] In the 2024 season, he played in eight games and finished with 23 receptions for 187 yards and 39 carries for 278 yards.[87]
Hill is married to Emily Nixon Hill and is a father of two.[88] He is the youngest of four children of Doug and Natalie Hill.[89] He was named after Taysom Construction Company, formerly located in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho.[90]
