By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Taysom Hill, a former BYU quarterback who evolved into a productive multi-position player for the New Orleans Saints, has announced that he won’t be returning to the team with which he spent his first nine NFL seasons.
Whether Hill — the only player in the NFL’s Super Bowl era to amass 1,000 or more yards passing, rushing and receiving — continues to play professional football remains to be seen. He did not announce his retirement.
“I’ve taken time this offseason to think carefully about what comes next for my family and me,” Hill said in a social media post on Wednesday night. “I still don’t have a clear answer about what the future holds, but I know that returning to New Orleans is not in the cards.”
Hill’s announcement was largely anticipated; he sold his New Orleans-area home during the offseason and had not signed an extension with the Saints after becoming a free agent in March.
Soon after Hill’s post, the Saints posted a highlight video, narrated by record-setting, Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Drew Brees, thanking Hill for his contributions to the franchise.
On the eve of training camp, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he had spoken to Hill, but wanted to keep those conversations private for the time being. The uncertainty surrounding those conversations lasted little more than a day.
“As training camp begins, I didn’t want my silence to be misinterpreted,” Hill said. “As hard as it is to put into words, I wanted to express my gratitude. To the city of New Orleans: thank you.”
Hill’s NFL career began as an undrafted free-agent QB with Green Bay during the 2017 offseason. When he was waived at the end of training camp, the Saints, then coached by Sean Payton, claimed him.
Payton, now coaching the Denver Broncos, initially planed to groom Hill as a possible successor to Brees at QB. But not wanting to let the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Hill’s athleticism go to waste, the Saints decided to try him out on special teams as a returner, an upback on punts and covering kicks.
After Hill proved effective in those roles, he became a change-of-pace, running QB who also chipped in at running back, tight end and receiver, earning him the moniker of the Saints’ “Swiss Army Knife.”
While Hill never won the full-time starting QB job, he started nine times because of injuries. The Saints went 7-2 in those games.
Hill now has career statistics of 2,554 yards and 34 touchdowns rushing; 2,426 yards and 12 TDs passing; and 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving. In 2023, Hill became the first NFL player in half a century to have 10 touchdowns rushing, passing and receiving.
During his final home game for the Saints, Hill surpassed the career 1,000 yard mark as a receiver and also threw a touchdown pass. He waved goodbye to fans as he left the field after the game, saying he wasn’t sure if he’d play in the Superdome again.
If he does, it’ll be in a different uniform.
“Taysom’s career to this point as a member of the Saints organization has been remarkable in all facets,” Loomis said in a statement. “His intelligence, unique athletic ability, versatility and unselfishness have benefited this team in many facets for the past nine seasons. Additionally, he’s been a great teammate, excellent leader and mentor.”
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