Saints legend Taysom Hill announces departure from New Orleans after unforgettable nine-year run

Taysom Hill is officially moving on from the Big Easy, folks. And possibly football.

After nine years of breaking defensive coordinators' brains, the 35-year-old Swiss Army knife announced Wednesday that his run with the New Orleans Saints has come to an end.

Hill posted a heartfelt farewell to Saints fans, confirming that while he isn't officially hanging up the cleats just yet, a return to New Orleans is off the table.

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"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 wrote, thanking the city and organization that embraced him in 2017.

And what a ride it was.

When Green Bay cut him nearly a decade ago, nobody saw this coming. Hill became football's ultimate Swiss Army knife, lining up at quarterback, tight end, fullback and receiver while starring on special teams.

One snap he'd bulldoze a linebacker. The next, he'd uncork a 40-yard dime.

The numbers back up the chaos, too. Hill leaves New Orleans as the only player in Super Bowl era history to rack up at least 1,000 career passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. That's ridiculous versatility.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis saluted Hill's selfless play, pointing to his "intelligence, unique athletic ability, versatility, and unselfishness," while promising the team will properly celebrate his achievements down the road.

As training camps fire up across the league, Hill enters free agency as an intriguing wild card. He could easily choose to ride off into the sunset after suffering a brutal late-season injury last year. But if a contender needs a hard-nosed, do-it-all weapon for a playoff push, don't be surprised if his phone rings.

"Forever a Saint," Hill signed off. Hard to argue with that one.

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