When the Browns defense saw Taysom Hill in the huddle, their hearts must have sunk. "Not again," they probably thought, but there was nothing they could do because as soon as Taysom Hill received the direct snap, he was off and running for a 75-yard rushing touchdown, his third in the game.
That run was also the Saints' longest of the 2024 season and the longest since 2017, when then-rookie running back Alvin Kamara ran 74 yards for a touchdown. In that mid-November game, Hill had seven rushes for 138 yards and three touchdowns, eight receptions for 50 yards, one 42-yard kick return, and one completed pass for 18 yards.
Taysom Hill's 75-yard touchdown run from last season is the play of the day, as the Saints will begin their 2025 season against the Arizona Cardinals in exactly 75 days.
How Taysom Hill is a swiss-army knife
That game against the Browns wasn't the only time that Hill has shown the ability to be the human version of a swiss-army knife. Hill has excelled on special teams since day one and has demonstrated his ability to play all over the field on offense, totaling 2,437 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, 943 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, and 2,369 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.
Hill is only the second player since Frank Gifford (NYG 1952-60, 1962-64) with at least 25 rushing touchdowns, 10 touchdown passes, and 10 touchdown receptions. Hill's jersey and cleats from the game in which he joined Gifford's exclusive club are currently on display at Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Additionally, there have even been some semi-serious conversations about him coming in at linebacker at some point, although nothing like that has happened yet.
Taysom Hill's injuries
Unfortunately, an ACL tear ended Hill's 2024 season. That was his fourth career season-ending injury, and it only adds to his long list of injuries. In the NFL, he has missed games and seen limited playing time due to injuries ranging from an elbow sprain to the most recent ACL tear. While in college at BYU, Hill suffered three serious season-ending injuries: first from an ACL tear in 2012, second from a tibia fracture in 2014, and third from an unspecified pedal foot injury in 2015.
Hill's list of injuries could significantly impact his usage in 2025, which will consequently have a major effect on the run game. He has been the Saints second best runner in recent seasons. Running back Alvin Kamara is the team's next most experienced rusher, but the Saints have to be careful not to overuse him. He's coming off a season-ending injury as well.
One of the other running backs—Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Cam Akers, Devin Neal, Marcus Yarns, or Velus Jones—will have to step up in training camp, or the run game could be off-kilter next season.
