Taysom Hill Bio
Taysom Shawn Hill (born August 23, 1990, in Pocatello, Idaho) 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. Noted for his exceptional versatility, Hill has held the official positions of quarterback and tight end while also performing various other offensive and special teams roles. He is widely known as “the Human Swiss Army Knife” by the Saints media.
Early Life and Background
Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, Taysom Shawn Hill grew up as the youngest of four children of Doug and Natalie Hill. He was named after the Taysom Construction Company, formerly located in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho. Hill lettered in football, basketball, and track at Highland High School in Pocatello, graduating in 2009.
As a senior, Hill starred on the gridiron, throwing for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,491 yards and 24 touchdowns. His outstanding play earned him 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 also set school single-season and career records for total offense.
In track and field, Hill competed in the 200 meters and long jump. As a sophomore, he recorded a personal-best time of 22.5 seconds in the 200 m. As a senior, Hill won the long jump event at the 2009 5A Regional Meet with a mark of 6.85 m. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary for the church in Sydney, Australia from 2009 to 2011 before beginning his college career.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school in 2009, Taysom Shawn Hill had multiple scholarship offers from western programs, including the University of Arizona, Boise State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University, the University of Utah, Stanford University, and Brigham Young University. Heavily recruited by head coach Jim Harbaugh, Hill originally committed to Stanford, but after returning from his LDS 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 BYU quarterback depth chart and was used in 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. He played in six games that year, starting and winning two contests before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Utah State.
Hill was named the Cougars’ full-time starter for 2013 and bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Virginia with 259 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Texas. In 2014, he led BYU to a 4-0 start before suffering a fractured leg. In 2015, a Lisfranc fracture in the season opener again ended his year, but he was granted a medical redshirt and returned as the starter in 2016, changing his jersey number from 4 to 7 to honor his late older brother, Dexter, who died that spring. A late-season elbow injury cut his 2016 campaign short, but his athletic pro day, including a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, helped him sign as an undrafted free agent.
Taysom Hill Career
Early Career (2017)
Taysom Shawn Hill went undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft but signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent on May 5, 2017. He appeared in three preseason games with the Packers, completing 14 of 20 passes for two touchdowns and adding a rushing score. Hill was released during final roster cuts on September 2, 2017.
Just one day later, 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 made his NFL debut on special teams against the Carolina Panthers, recording two tackles on kick returner Fozzy Whittaker across 12 special teams plays.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2018-2019)
Hill was listed as the third-string quarterback to start the 2018 season, but was used in a variety of positions throughout the Saints’ campaign, including as their primary kick returner. He returned his first kick for 47 yards in a Week 2 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, he had one of his most versatile performances, returning three kicks, making a tackle on a punt, rushing for 39 yards, and lining up at tight end.
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. Later that year, he blocked a punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that led to a touchdown in a comeback win, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In the playoffs, Hill ran for a first down on a fake punt against the Philadelphia Eagles and caught a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.
By 2019, Hill had become a regular playmaker in the Saints’ offense. During a Week 13 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving, he blocked a punt, rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, and caught a three-yard score. With his fourth touchdown reception of the year, Hill broke the record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season, cementing his status as a unique offensive weapon.
New Orleans Saints Era (2020-Present)
On March 14, 2021, the same day that Drew Brees announced his retirement, Hill signed a four-year, $40 million extension with the Saints. He received an additional extension on November 22, 2021, that gave him $22.5 million in guaranteed money. In March 2022, new head coach Dennis Allen moved Hill’s primary position from quarterback to tight end. Under offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Hill set new career highs for rushing attempts, rushing yards, and yards per carry while totaling nine receptions for 77 yards.
In 2023, Hill was moved back to his original position of quarterback, finishing with 81 carries for 401 yards and four touchdowns, alongside 33 receptions for 291 yards and two scores. During the 2024 season, he played in eight games, finishing with 23 receptions for 187 yards and 39 carries for 278 yards before suffering a torn ACL in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams.
On October 4, 2025, Hill was activated from the PUP list for his season debut. During a 29-6 victory over the New York Jets in Week 16, he became the only player in the Super Bowl era to amass 1,000 career receiving, rushing, and passing yards, adding another historic milestone to his unique career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Taysom Shawn Hill is recognized for his rare combination of size, speed, and football intelligence, allowing him to line up effectively at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and on special teams. His 4.44-second 40-yard dash and powerful running ability make him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, while his experience as a starting college quarterback allows him to read coverages and execute trick-play designs. Coaches have frequently deployed him in wildcat formations, on fake punts, and as a motion tight end, maximizing his value as a multi-purpose weapon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most celebrated accomplishments, Hill set the record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season in 2019 and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring four touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. In 2024, he became the second player in the Super Bowl era to record 8 catches, 130 rushing yards, and 3 touchdowns in a single game, joining LaDainian Tomlinson with that distinction. In 2025, he became the only player in the Super Bowl era to reach 1,000 career receiving, rushing, and passing yards.
Taysom Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Taysom Shawn Hill is the youngest of four children of Doug and Natalie Hill. He was named after the Taysom Construction Company, formerly located in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho. His late older brother, Dexter, passed away in the spring of 2016, prompting Hill to change his college jersey number from 4 to 7 in his honor during his final season at BYU.
Personal Life
Hill married Emily Nixon in 2014 in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the couple has two children. His brother-in-law is former BYU and NFL linebacker David Nixon. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary for the church in Sydney, Australia from 2009 to 2011 before beginning his college football career.
2025 Season Performance
Hill’s 2025 campaign began on the physically unable to perform list as he continued his recovery from the torn ACL suffered late in 2024. On October 4, 2025, he was activated from the PUP list in time to make his season debut, signaling an important step in his return to the field for the New Orleans Saints. His return added a familiar versatile element to the Saints’ offensive scheme.
During a 29-6 victory over the New York Jets in Week 16, Hill produced a career-defining statistical moment, becoming the only player in the Super Bowl era to amass 1,000 career receiving, rushing, and passing yards. This milestone highlighted his unique role as a hybrid player capable of impacting the game from multiple positions. His continued production at tight end and in specialty packages reaffirmed his value to the Saints’ offensive game plan.
Looking ahead, Hill remains a key component of the Saints’ offensive strategy under the continued evolution of their coaching staff. With his historic milestone secured and his health trending in the right direction, his versatility and leadership will continue to shape the team’s identity. Fans and analysts will watch closely as he builds on his legacy as one of the most unique contributors in modern NFL history.