Locals in the NFL: Taysom Hill makes NFL history in Saints' blowout win over Browns

AROUND THE SHIELD — Call him what you will — whether it's quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end or special teams ace for the New Orleans Saints — Taysom Hill is, in the words of former NFL great Jon Gruden, a "Football Player."

The former BYU star proved it again Sunday.

Hill totaled 206 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns Sunday as the Saints rolled to a 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns, arguably the most impressive offensive performance of the season in New Orleans.

The 34-year-old former BYU quarterback from Pocatello, Idaho, ran for 138 yards, including touchdowns of 10, 33 and 75 yards; caught eight passes for 50 yards; and completed an 18-yard toss to go along with an interception.

Hill became the first player in NFL history to total 100 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 50 receiving yards and 10 passing yards, according to CBS Sports.

He also had a 42-yard kick return, and added a fumble to go along with his pick.

"No surprise, that's Taysom," Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said. "But a great response from him. I know he was pissed off at halftime because we had a couple of turnovers, the interception and the fumble, but he might be the poster child for resilience.

"Listen," Rizzi later added, "When he touches the ball, he is on the field, it affects the game tremendously. And he sometimes doesn't even have to get the ball. Him being on the field, and I thought Klint (Kubiak) did a phenomenal job in the way we used him today."

Hill is officially listed as a tight end, but he's much more than that for the Saints. He became the first player to record three rushing touchdowns with 50 receiving yards and a pass completion in a single game since Ed Podolak in 1971.

In other words, players like Hill don't come along often.

"That's one of those things, to be honest, that I don't really pay a ton of attention to those things," he said. "I know that the guys who played this game before us did a lot for us that are now playing this.

"To be talked about with those guys means a lot to me. I love this game, but the reality is the guys who came before us laid a foundation for us to be playing in stadiums like this on national television and stuff. I don't want that to come across the wrong way because it does mean a lot to me."

Here's a look at how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Monday Night Football

Houston vs. Dallas

Texans (6-4)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford)

Cowboys (3-6)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont

Sunday Night Football

Los Angeles 34, Cincinnati 27

Chargers (7-3)

• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety made six tackles on defense

Bengals (4-7)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted five times for 250 yards (50.0 yards per punt) with two downed inside the 20
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Inactive for Week 11
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman had one tackle and a pass defended

Sunday afternoon

Green Bay 20, Chicago 19

Packers (7-3)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 13-of-17 passes for 261 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and ran for 18 yards and a touchdown
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back caught two passes for 13 yards

Bears (4-6)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had six tackles and a pass defended
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Detroit 52, Jacksonville 6

Lions (9-1)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started at right tackle
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught three passes for 26 yards
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: Reserve running back had 9 yards on five carries

Jaguars (2-9)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker made five tackles

Miami 34, Las Vegas 19

Dolphins (4-6)

• No locals on the active roster

Raiders (2-8)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Inactive for Week 11
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started at center

Los Angeles 28, New England 22

Rams (5-5)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught seven passes for 123 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown, before exiting with an injury
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive end made one tackle on defense

Patriots (3-8)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams

New Orleans 35, Cleveland 14

Saints (4-7)

• Taysom Hill, TE/QB, BYU: Starting tight end ran for 138 yards on seven carries, including touchdowns of 10, 33 and 75 yards, with a fumble; caught eight passes for team-high 50 yards; and completed 1-of-2 passes for 18 yards and an interception; with a kickoff return of 42 yards
• Dallin Holker, TE, BYU/Lehi (via Colorado State): Reserve tight end also played on special teams
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Inactive for Week 11

Browns (2-8)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had seven tackles and a tackle for loss
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense

Indianapolis 28, New York 27

Colts (5-6)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle also played on special teams
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety made one tackle
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 41, 47 and 56 yards with one PAT and six kickoffs

Jets (3-8)

• No locals on the active roster

Pittsburgh 18, Baltimore 16

Steelers (8-2)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 41 yards on nine carries, and caught four passes for 27 yards
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams

Ravens (7-4)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker had one tackle and a quarterback hit
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams

Minnesota 23, Tennessee 13

Vikings (8-2)

• Taki Taimani, DT, East (via Oregon): Placed on IR (ankle)

Titans (2-8)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee): Active, but did not play

Denver 38, Atlanta 6

Broncos (6-5)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker had four tackles and an interception
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Starting wide receiver caught four passes for 66 yards
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle with a sack
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 11

Falcons (6-5)

• Clark Phillips, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made four tackles
• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back caught one pass for loss of one yard
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge-Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had nine tackles with a tackle for loss

Seattle 20, San Francisco 17

Seahawks (5-5)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Inactive for Week 11

49ers (5-5)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had three tackles
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Placed on IR (back)

Buffalo 30, Kansas City 21

Bills (9-2)

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: Reserve safety also played on special teams
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel made six tackles
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Inactive for Week 11

Chiefs (9-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Inactive for Week 11

Thursday Night Football

Philadelphia 26, Washington 18

Eagles (8-2)

• No locals on the active roster

Commanders (7-4)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Reserve cornerback played 20 snaps on defense, 14 on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker made eight tackles in 71 defensive snaps

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