The New Orleans Saints improved to 2-0 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi with a commanding 35-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.

Rizzi has much to thank Taysom Hill for after this win. The seasoned tight end delivered one of the finest performances of his career, proving to be a versatile asset in New Orleans’ offense.

Here’s a summary of Hill’s remarkable performance and the milestones he achieved.

Taysom Hill Stats Today

In the Saints’ Week 11 win over the Browns, Hill had a career-high with 15 total touches. He made impacts as a passer, receiver, and rusher, serving as the team’s second-most utilized player behind Alvin Kamara.

Here’s a breakdown of Hill’s stats from Sunday’s match:

• Carries: 7
• Rushing Yards: 138
• Rushing Touchdowns: 3
• Yards Per Carry: 19.7
• Receptions: 8
• Receiving Yards: 50
• Receiving Touchdowns: 0
• Yards Per Reception: 6.3
• Passing Yards: 18
• Passing Touchdowns: 0
• Passer Rating: 41.7

Most of Hill’s significant contributions were on the ground, as he played a crucial role as the Saints’ No. 2 runner after Kamara. He scored three rushing touchdowns, including the pivotal go-ahead touchdown on a 33-yard run on fourth down.

Hill capitalized on zone read plays, as the Browns often collapsed the line to contain Kamara, opening up space for Hill to exploit. Additionally, when running designed quarterback plays, Hill used his size and strength to gain yards effectively.

Hill also acted as a reliable short option for Derek Carr, leading the team with 10 targets and securing 50 receiving yards.

The only downsides in Hill’s performance were an interception from his second and final pass attempt and a fumble on a first-down reception near the end zone. However, he was overall a positive influence, amassing over 200 total yards for the first time this NFL season.

Most Rushing Yards by a Tight End in a Game

Hill’s impressive 138 rushing yards established a new record for tight ends. He broke the previous record with a remarkable 75-yard touchdown run during the Saints’ second-to-last possession in the game.

This new record was his own, as he previously had 112 rushing yards while playing against the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. Hill currently holds four of the top 10 rushing performances by a tight end in NFL history.

Here’s a list of the top single-game rushing feats by a tight end in NFL history, according to Stathead:

1. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 138 yards (2024 vs. Browns)
2. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 112 yards (2022 vs. Seahawks)
3. Willie Frazier, San Diego Chargers: 92 yards (1970 vs. Packers)
4. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 81 yards (2022 at Falcons)
5. Pat Curran, Los Angeles Rams: 78 yards (1970 at Bills)
6. Jacque MacKinnon, San Diego Chargers: 74 yards (1964 vs. Broncos)
7. Keith Byers, Philadelphia Eagles: 68 yards (1992 at Washington)
8. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 61 yards (2022 vs. Raiders)
9. Rich Caster, New York Jets: 59 yards (1976 vs. Washington)
10. Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans: 57 yards (2019 vs. Texans)

Taysom Hill Joins Exclusive 50-50 Tight End Club

Hill has also become just the third tight end since the year 1950 to achieve 50 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards in a single game. The players who have accomplished this are:

• Keith Byars, Philadelphia Eagles: 68 rushing yards, 57 receiving yards (1992)
• Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans: 57 rushing yards, 60 receiving yards (2019)
• Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 138 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards (2024)

Additionally, Hill is the first player in the Super Bowl era to reach at least 30 rushing touchdowns, 10 receiving touchdowns, and 10 passing touchdowns throughout his career.

At 34, he has proven to be one of the NFL’s most distinctive weapons, and the Saints are likely to continue benefiting from his exceptional skills throughout the season.