Anyone watching Taysom Hill operate with the Saints over the past half decade is aware they've seen something unique, oftentimes special.
This week it got historic, with Hill catching and throwing for touchdowns in a 24-17 win over the Bears, a week after running for a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Colts.
Hill's first score of the day gave him 10 receiving touchdowns in his career, making him just the fifth player in NFL history to log 10 TDs as a rusher, passer and receiver. He's the first NFL player to achieve that feat since Frank Gifford in 1957.
"Half the guys in our locker room would have no idea who Frank Gifford is," head coach Dennis Allen said. "So I think that’s pretty impressive."
But it's just one of the accolades for Taysom on the day. He also became one of just four players in NFL history to log 2,000 yards rushing and passing, along with 600 yards as a receiver.
“When all is said and done there might be a special category for Taysom Hill in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert said, reacting to his performance.
But for the player himself, it's all about results. He knows about the stats, but only because the stats people have told him. The impact he's had on the game has been far more tangible. He now has five touchdowns over the Saints' past three games, and it's coincided with the most effective offense his team has produced in a second half comeback against the Jags that fell just short, an offensive explosion against the Colts, and an efficient red zone day in an eked-out win over the Bears.
For good measure, the Saints QB is also 7-2 in his career as a starting QB after coming to the NFL as an undrafted player out of BYU. He started with the Packers before being claimed off waivers by New Orleans in 2017.
"I look back at my career and I certainly didn’t think it would’ve gone the way that it has, but as I hear and I think about stuff like that, it’s overwhelming," Hill said. "I have a lot of gratitude to be able to be a part of this program and play with coaches that are creative enough to give me opportunities.”
The Taysom Hill phenomenon is one that Saints QB Derek Carr admits he didn't quite understand from afar. He'd watch Saints games and see Taysom coming in and Drew Brees coming off the field. Wait, what? They're really doing that ... with a first-ballot Hall of Famer?
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Now that Carr is in town and has seen firsthand what the do-it-all Hill can accomplish on the field and his impact on games, it makes all the sense in the world. Hill had a season-high 11 carries for 52 yards in Week 9. The Saints are 17-1 in games where Hill has logged 40-plus yards rushing.
"I celebrate him every chance I get because of that just doesn’t come around all the time, a guy that can go from tight end to running back to special teams, blocking on a punt, punt return to playing tight end to going to quarterback, to play F receiver," Carr said. "Like, that just doesn’t happen all the time. He’s one of my favorite teammates, but he’s just an ultimate competitor and I love him.”