Locals in the NFL: Taysom Hill now belongs to an exclusive club of NFL greats

AROUND THE SHIELD — Taysom Hill proved he was one-of-a-kind in the NFL on Sunday.

Or at least, one of a few.

Hill became the first NFL player to record at least 10 touchdowns as a runner, passer and receiver since Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback Frank Gifford in 1964 with two touchdowns in the New Orleans' Saints 24-17 win over the Chicago Bears to highlight Week 9 of the 2023 NFL regular season.

The former BYU quarterback who has been designated as a starting signal caller, tight end, wide receiver and tailback — in addition to occasional work on special teams — during his time in New Orleans.

He ran for a team-best 4.7 yards per carry for 52 yards in Sunday's win, caught four passes for 13 yards and a touchdown, and added a 3-yard touchdown strike that turned out to be the game winner.

When told of his historic accomplishment after the game, the Pocatello, Idaho, native was stunned, apparently. Even a bit speechless.

"I look back at my career, and I certainly didn't think that it would have gone the way that it has," Hill said. "But as I hear about stuff like that, it's overwhelming. I have a lot of gratitude to be able to be part of this program and play with coaches that are creative enough to get me opportunities. I would say it's really just a whole lot of gratitude."

Listed as backup quarterback in the participation report, Hill was one of two quarterbacks to play for the Saints in Saturday's win alongside starter Derek Carr.

The duo connected on a 2-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-all at halftime. After the two sides exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Hill then took a snap in shotgun — with former BYU running back Jamaal Williams as his lead block — and found Juwan Johnson with a 3-yard score with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter to give New Orleans just its second lead of the game.

The New Orleans defense did the rest, intercepting Tyson Bagent three times, including a pair from Paulson Adebo, to keep the Bears pinned back.

Williams, who recently returned from injured reserve, ran three times for six yards in reserve, and also caught two passes for 6 yards.

But Hill was the star of the show, doing something the league hasn't seen since Gifford. The former Super Bowl-winning single-wing halfback for the New York Giants was a dynamic playmaker during his 136-game career, totaling 34 rushing touchdowns, 43 touchdown receptions and 14 touchdown passes en route to eight Pro Bowl nominees, four All-Pro awards, and induction into the Hall of Fame with the Class of 1977.

Hill is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 10 passing, 10 receiving and 10 rushing touchdowns. Each of the previous four are currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

He had already earned the 10/10/10 achievement with regular season and playoff games, but Sunday's achievement was all the more impressive, granting the seventh-year NFL veteran 26 rushing touchdowns, 11 passing and 10 receiving scores

"I think that's pretty impressive," Saints coach Dennis Allen said of Hill. "Half the guys in that locker room would have no idea who Frank Gifford is. I think that's pretty impressive."

Here are how other former Utah high school and college football standouts performed in Week 9 of the 2023 NFL regular season:

• Former BYU quarterback Jaren Hall's first NFL start didn't last beyond the first quarter, when the Maple Mountain graduate left in concussion protocol. Hall completed 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards and ran twice for 11 yards before being replaced by Joshua Dobbs, who completed 20-of-30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 66 more in a 31-28 win.
• Former Bingham High tight end Dalton Schultz caught a game-high 10-of-11 of his targets for 130 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud as the Texans quarterback threw five touchdown passes in a 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• After catching three passes for 32 yards in Los Angeles' 20-3 loss to the Packers, former BYU and Orem High receiver Puka Nacua broke teammate Cooper Kupp's Rams franchise record for most receptions in his first NFL season.

Monday Night Football

LA Chargers 27, NY Jets 6

Chargers (4-4)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback had two tackles and a pass defended on defense.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety totaled four tackles, a pass defended, and forced and recovered a fumble on defense.
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Reserve receiver also played on special teams.

Jets (4-4)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 33-of-49 for 263 yards with eight sacks taken and ran for seven yards on two carries on offense.

Sunday Night Football

Cincinnati 24, Buffalo 18

Bengals (5-3)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback had an assisted tackle on kickoff return.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive lineman also played on special teams.

Bills (5-4)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught team-high 10 passes for 81 yards with a fumble on offense.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel totaled five tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.

Sunday afternoon

Philadelphia 28, Dallas 23

Cowboys (5-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Eagles (8-1)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve offensive lineman also played special teams.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve wide receiver returned one punt for 4 yards with a fair catch on special teams.

Las Vegas 30, New York 6

Raiders (4-5)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center on offense.

Giants (2-7)

• No locals on the active roster.

Kansas City 21, Miami 14

Chiefs (7-2)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid.

Dolphins (6-3)

• No locals on the active roster.

Minnesota 31, Atlanta 28

Vikings (5-4)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Starting quarterback completed 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards and ran twice for 11 yards before exiting in the first half with an injury.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle on defense.

Falcons (4-5)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran 12 times for 39 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown with 2:08 remaining that gave the Falcons a 28-24 lead.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Reserve cornerback also played on special teams.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had nine tackles and a pass defended on defense.

Baltimore 37, Seattle 3

Ravens (7-2)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Reserve quarterback completed 5-of-7 passes for 38 yards, ran four times for 8 yards, and tossed a 6-yard touchdown to Odell Beckham Jr. in the fourth quarter.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for Week 9.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker had two tackles, two sacks, a tackle for loss and forced a fumble on defense.

Seahawks (5-3)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting middle linebacker totaled nine tackles and a fumble recovery on defense.

Cleveland 27, Arizona 0

Browns (5-3)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker made three tackles, a pass defended and an interception on defense.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense and also played on special teams.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Inactive for Week 9.

Cardinals (1-8)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Starting nose tackle had five tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry on defense.

Green Bay 20, Los Angeles 3

Packers (3-5)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 20-of-26 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown on offense.
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State: Reserve safety
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: shared a tackle on defense

LA Rams (3-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting wide receiver caught three passes for 32 yards on offense.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end made four tackles on defense.

Houston 39, Tampa Bay 37

Texans (4-4)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught a game-high 10 passes for 130 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown.

Buccaneers (3-5)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver returned three punts for 22 yards and three kicks for 54 yards, including a long return of 23 yards on special teams.

Washington 20, New England 17

Commanders (4-5)

• Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center on offense.

Patriots (2-7)

• No locals on the active roster.

New Orleans 24, Chicago 17

Saints (5-4)

• Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: Reserve quarterback ran a team-high 11 times for 52 yards, caught four passes for 13 yards and a touchdown, and threw a 3-yard touchdown strike in a record-tying performance on offense.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran three times for 6 yards, caught two passes for 6 yards on offense.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught three passes for 22 yards on offense, returned two punts for 20 yards, and returned a kickoff for 24 yards on special teams.

Bears (2-7)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback made four tackles on defense.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played six snaps on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle on offense.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker made one tackle on defense.

Indianapolis 27, Carolina 13

Colts (4-5)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Started at right tackle on offense.
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting strong safety made six tackles on defense.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Kicked field goals of 26 and 57 yards with three PATs and six kickoffs.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran seven times for 26 yards.

Panthers (1-7)

• No locals on the active roster.

Thursday Night Football

Pittsburgh 20, Tennessee 16

Steelers (5-3)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for game-high 88 yards on 11 carries, caught three passes for 25 yards in 26 snaps on offense and six more on special teams.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety downed a punt in 16 snaps on special teams.

Titans (3-5)

• No locals on the active roster.

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