No longer a New Orleans Saint, Taysom Hill continues to inspire

Taysom Hill may be done playing football for New Orleans, but his on-the-field performance and his off-the-field persona have earned him Sainthood among the Who Dats for years to come.

“He’s the guy that a lot of our guys can look to as an example of growing in the NFL and finding roles and finding opportunities,” said Saints coach Kellen Moore after Hill announced his nine-year run in New Orleans was over. “Everyone, for the last few years, has been chasing to find the next Taysom. But there really is just one Taysom.”

That “one Taysom” was going to be Jim Harbaugh’s Swiss army knife quarterback at Stanford prior to Hill’s two-year church mission to Sydney, Australia. When the 49ers lured Harbaugh away, Hill redirected his post-mission plans to Provo.

BYU figured it had someone special, but it wasn’t until Sept. 7, 2013, that the Cougars knew for sure. Facing No. 15 Texas and following a two-hour weather delay, Hill produced one of the single greatest performances in program history.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill (4) runs away from Texas linebacker Steve Edmond (33) Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at LaVell Edwards stadium. BYU won 40-21. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

ESPN had the national broadcast. Blaine Fowler and I called BYUtv’s version. Trailing 7-3 with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter and on third-and-two, Hill faked a handoff to Jamaal Williams and ran around the left side of the line.

Three Longhorn defenders each had a shot at him, but the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Ford truck with a Ferrari engine shifted into a different gear.

“There he goes!” was all I could muster on the mic. The 60,000-plus soggy fans took the call from there and screamed in delight for all 68 yards of Hill’s touchdown run.

Midway through the second quarter, Hill scrambled up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown to give BYU a 17-14 lead.

Early in the third quarter, on third-and-10, Hill grabbed the shotgun snap and took off again for a 26-yard touchdown. His momentum turned him around and Hill back-stepped his way across the goal line like he was back home in Pocatello, Idaho, battling his buddies on the side yard.

Hill averaged 15.2 yards per carry and totaled enough yards (259) to prompt Texas coach Mack Brown to fire his defensive coordinator after the game. Burying the Longhorns 41-20 was enough to put Hill on the NFL’s radar. Doing it again 364 days later earned him a job.

There was no way the Texas defense, and their new defensive coordinator, was going to let Hill run over them again when BYU and Texas staged a rematch on Sept. 6, 2014, in Austin.

The Texas heat was stifling, but Hill ran cool. Even after his electrifying 66-yard touchdown run was called back in the first quarter, he just kept coming.

With Fox broadcasting the game, Blaine and I were relegated to the sideline for BYUtv’s pre- and post-game coverage. We watched BYU drive into scoring position early in the third quarter, but there was no indication that Hill’s signature moment was about to unfold in front of us.

Leading 6-0 on second-and-eight at the 30, Hill dropped back to pass. The Longhorns brought pressure, so he stepped up in the pocket and then took off. The television announcer did his best to keep up with him.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill leaps over Texas defenders during game Sept. 6, 2014. Hill scored on a 30-yard touchdown. | Jon Hardy, BYU

“Hill steps out of pressure, has a seam for a first down — and more — hurdles his way — highlight reel! Touchdown!”

Hill’s iconic leap over the diving Texas defender was around the 8-yard line and about 10 yards away from us. As he scored the first of his three touchdowns in a 41-7 BYU victory, Blaine and I looked at each other and marveled with all the Longhorns fans — “Wow!”

The only mistake bigger than the Texas game plan when it came to containing Hill was the Green Bay Packers cutting him as a free agent signee before the 2017 season. Their loss was New Orleans’ gain. Head coach Sean Payton was fully aware of what Hill was capable of and he scooped him up.

In 124 games with the Saints, Hill amassed 2,426 passing yards, 2,511 rushing yards, 1,034 receiving yards and 46 total touchdowns. He also had 20 kickoff returns and a punt return, and when he was playing defense on special teams, Hill collected 22 tackles and a blocked punt.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton greets quarterback Taysom Hill (7) before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. | Butch Dill, Associated Press

Hill remains the only player in the Super Bowl era to have at least 1,000 yards passing, receiving and rushing. He is also the only player since 1957 and one of five overall with at least 10 touchdown passes, receptions and runs — and if he keeps playing, he’ll keep scoring.

If there isn’t room for him in the current Pro Football Hall of Fame, they should build an additional wing, tweak the requirements and offer occupancy for the first returned missionary to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Hill has earned it by changing the game like no other, even while battling through several major injuries.

“When we needed more, he gave us everything because that’s what it means to be a Saint in New Orleans,” former Saints quarterback Drew Brees said during a tribute video for Hill released this week by New Orleans. “We adapt. We endure. No shortcuts. No excuses. All heart and soul. Forever a Saint. Forever a legend.”

What happens next is up to Hill. He turns 36 in August but still has the tools, and there are enough contenders with plenty of creativity to suit his skill set. Hill’s former coach, Sean Payton, is now in Denver. Fellow Cougar Andy Reid is in Kansas City. Sean McVay, another offensive guru, is in Los Angeles with Puka Nacua. Seems like Hill could fit nicely with any of them.

The next few weeks will be interesting for an athlete good enough to keep playing and smart enough to know when he has played enough. In simpler terms, does he want to finish more drives in the end zone or crush more drives with his driver at Riverside Country Club? Both seem like pretty good options but one doesn’t involve getting tackled.

Hill isn’t perfect. He never professed to be, but because of his effort, he’ll forever be a Saint in New Orleans, and thanks to Texas, he will remain on the highlight reel at BYU no matter what he chooses to do next.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) leaves the field after a game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. | Ella Hall, Associated Press

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.