Taysom Hill

At 34 years old, Taysom Hill has this physical status:

Taysom Shawn Hill (born August 23, 1990) is an American football quarterback and utility player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).

He played collegiate football for the BYU Cougars. Hill, who has been listed on the official Saints' depth chart as a backup quarterback, has played seven different offensive skill positions and on both directions of the ball, including as the team's primary punt returner.

Saints' publications have praised him for his versatility, as well as the tag "the human Swiss Army knife."

Early years

Hill was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track at Highland High School, graduating in 2009. He threw for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns, while running for 1,491 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior, winning the All-Idaho Player of the Year award, First Team All-State honors, and All-Conference Player of the Year awards. He holds the school single-season and career records for total offense.

Hill was in contention for the 200 meters and long jump. He ran the fourth leg of the 4 x 200 m relay team as a sophomore at the 2007 5A District IV/V/VI Regional Meet, placing third. He won the long jump at the 2009 5A Regional Meet as a senior, beating a record of 6.85 m (22 ft 5+11/16 in).

Personal life

Hill is the youngest of Doug and Natalie Hill's four children. He was named after Taysom Construction Company, who was then located in Pocatello, Idaho.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent as a missionary for the church in Sydney, Australia, from 2009 to 2011. Emily Nixon was married in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2014. David Nixon, a former BYU and NFL linebacker, is Hill's brother-in-law.

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College career

Hill came out of high school in 2009, receiving multiple offers from West universities, including University of Arizona, Boise State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Washington State University, Stanford University, Stanford University, and Brigham Young University.

Hill had originally volunteered to Stanford out of high school, but after returning from his LDS church service, he enrolled at BYU in January. Stanford did not allow new students to join the team until June.

Hill was the second on the quarterback depth chart in his freshman season in 2012. He was initially introduced to special packages in order to use his athleticism in short-yardage situations. In his first game as a college athlete, he threw an 18-yard touchdown against Washington State in the home opener. Hill played in six games in 2012, beginning and winning two games midseason before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the final seconds of a victory over Utah State.

Hill resurrects in the 2013 season. After a tough 19–16 loss in Virginia's season opener, he bounced back against Texas the next week, with 259 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 40–21 victory. Hill suffered a fractured leg against Utah State on October 3, snapping his season. The BYU lost their first game of the season on Sunday.

Hill was injured again at the start of the 2015 season when he sustained a lisfranc fracture during the opener against Nebraska on September 5. Bronco Mendenhall, the BYU head coach, announced that the injury will cost Hill the remainder of the season.

Hill was given a medical redshirt for 2015, allowing him to return for one last season in 2016. On February 16, he declared that he would return to BYU in 2016 rather than looking at other colleges as a graduate transfer. Hill was named the starting quarterback on August 23 over sophomore Tanner Mangum, who had started after Hill's injury in 2015. Hill changed his jersey number from 4 to the number 7 that his late brother Dexter had worn.

Hill suffered from his fourth season-ending injury in 2016. He went down with a hyperextended elbow injury in the fourth quarter against in-state rival Utah State on November 26, limiting his ability to finish the season.

Professional career

At BYU's pro day, Hill demonstrated exceptional athletic ability. His 40-yard dash of 4.44 seconds and 38.5 inches (0.98 meters) vertical jump would have ranked first among all competing quarterbacks at the 2017 NFL Combine, defeating Trevor Knight of Texas A&M's 4.54-second 40-yard dash and 35.5 inches (0.90 m) vertical.

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

Hill was granted waivers by the New Orleans Saints the following day. On December 3, he was promoted to the active roster and appeared in a total of twelve special teams games against the Carolina Panthers. Hill had two special teams tackles on the Panthers' kick returner Fozzy Whittaker in his NFL debut.

Hill was dubbed the third-string quarterback to begin the 2018 season, but the Saints used him in a variety of roles, including as the team's primary kick returner.

He made his first kick 47 yards against the Cleveland Browns on September 16, the Saints defeated the Browns 21-18 on Week 2. He had his best game in his NFL career against the Atlanta Falcons next week. Hill kicked three kicks for 64 yards and tackled a punt on a punt on special teams. On offense, he rushed the ball three times for 39 yards and was often used as a defensive line to block defenders. Hill earned his first NFL pass against the New York Giants on a fake punt for ten yards in the upcoming game. He also rushed for 28 yards, lining up on offense and still being the primary kick returner. Hill rushed five times for 24 yards against the Washington Redskins, including his first NFL touchdown run in a 43–19 victory. Hill won by 30-20 over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, kicking up the Saints' first touchdown of the season by completing a 44-yard pass to Michael Thomas for his second pass completion of the year. He stopped a punt from Bryan Anger during Week 14 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bringing the Saints to a victory after a comeback from behind 28–14 road victory, allowing them to clinch the division championship. He was named Week NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Hill finished the season with 37 carries for 196 yards and two rushing touchdowns, three touchdown receptions for four yards, and an interceptor. In addition, he had 14 kickoff returns for 348 net yards on a 24.86 average.

Hill made a key role in the Saints' Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, going for a first down on a fake punt to start the Saints' comeback victory. Hill had a touchdown reception against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 26-23.

Hill rushed twice for eight yards and caught a nine-yard touchdown in the narrow 30–28 victory over the Houston Texans in the season's opener. Hill rushed twice for 21 yards and caught a screen pass for a four-yard touchdown in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, earning a 36–25 road win. In the 31–9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Hill saw his playing time rise as Drew Brees returned from injury and finished with a career high three passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Hill blocked a punt, rushed for a 30-yard field touchdown, and stopped for a three-yard touchdown in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, who then won by 26-18 on Tuesday. Hill's fourth touchdown reception of the year tied for the most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season. Hill had two passes for 42 yards, including the 541st career touchdown pass throw by Drew Brees, during the 34–7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. Hill had consecutive plays of 11-yards for the first down, 50-yard passing, and a block that resulted in Alvin Kamara's four-yard rushing touchdown in a drive. Hill finished with 50 yards passing, 50 yards passing, and 25 yards receiving, with a touchdown late in the game. In overtime, the Vikings lost 26–20.

In March 2020, the Saints hosted a first-round restricted free agent tender on Hill worth $4.641 million. Hill re-signed with the Saints on April 26, a two-year contract with the first-round limited free agent tender that was on Hill, brought the total figure up to around $21 million.

Due to Drew Brees' injury, Hill would make his first appearance at quarterback for the Saints in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons on November 20, 2020. Hill had 23 passes, with 18 of 233 yards completed. He also ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns, assisting the Saints in defeating the Falcons 24–9. In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, he scored two rushing touchdowns in another game. In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, he had 232 passing yards and his first two career passing touchdowns. Despite a two touchdown, 291 yard passing effort, the team would lose 24-21 to the Eagles in Week 14.

Hill signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Saints on March 14, 2021, the same day starting quarterback Drew Brees announced his retirement. The agreement was structured in such a way as to free up salary cap space for New Orleans, saving them $7.75 million over the 2021 cap. Jameis Winston, the 2021 Saints' starting quarterback, was fired. He spent the year as the third-string quarterback on the depth chart alongside Jameis Winston and Trevor Siemian, but he continued in his role as a utility player, playing in six of the first nine games as a runner, receiver, and on special teams during the first half of the 2021 season. Hill was promoted to the starting quarterback role prior to the Dallas Cowboys' Thursday Night Football game on Thursday night, following a four-game losing streak. Despite leading the team in rushing with 101 yards on 11 carries, he threw four interceptions to only two touchdowns, and the team lost 27–17. In a 30-9 blowout victory, he did better against the New York Jets, going 15-for-21 for 175 yards and a 96.3 passer rating, as well as running for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

On November 22, 2021, Hill signed an additional contract extension with the Saints. Hill sustained a Lisfranc fracture in a game against the Atlanta Falcons on January 9, 2022, which required surgery later.

In March 2022, veteran quarterback Dennis Allen flipped Hill's primary position from quarterback to tight end. Since the team re-signed Jameis Winston and picked up veteran Andy Dalton, it was decided that a better use of Hill's talent set came as a result. Hill is expected to play as a motion tight end, having pushed back from the point of scrimmage.

Despite Hill's reputation as a "tight end" on the Saints' depth chart, the quarterback took snaps at quarterback to start the season. Hill completed four rushes against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 from this position, resulting in 81 yards and a touchdown on four rushes.

Hill missed Week 3 due to a rib injury and returned against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. He took snaps at quarterback, alternating with Andy Dalton. Hill had his second touchdown of the season on a goal line play out of a shotgun range. As he was positioned as wide receiver, Hill took snaps as well.

Hill had one of his best statistical games of his career against the Seattle Seahawks on October 9, scoring a career-high four touchdowns in a 39-32 victory. He finished with nine runs for 122 yards and three touchdowns (including a go-ahead 60-yard touchdown run), completed his only pass for a 22-yard touchdown, and recovered a touchdown on special teams. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his appearance.

In Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals, Hill recorded his first receiving touchdown of 2022 and finished both of his pass attempts for 48 yards. Former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart, who appeared on the television show "Slash+," in reference to former NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart, who appeared on the Pittsburgh Steelers' longtime play-by-play announcer Al Michaels' play-by-play announcer Al Michaels' mentioning Hill as "Slash+" during his time as Hill.

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