Damar Hamlin records 1st career interception, sends Bills crowd into a frenzy less than 2 years after cardiac arrest

In January 2023, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday night game in one of the most frightening scenes in the history of American sports.

Less than two years later, on Monday night, Hamlin recorded his first career interception, sending his teammates and a home Bills crowd into a frenzy.

The play took place late in the second quarter of Buffalo's 47-10 in over the Jaguars. With the Bills leading, 20-3, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a downfield pass on first-and-10 targeting rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Instead, he found Hamlin, who picked off the pass at the Buffalo 40-yard line and returned it 19 yards.

The Highmark Stadium crowd erupted into cheers as Hamlin ran down the sideline to celebrate in the end zone with his fellow Bills defenders. He continued to receive accolades and congratulations from his teammates on the sideline.

It was a special moment for Hamlin, the Bills and the entire NFL community, which watched in horror on a Monday night in 2023 unsure if Hamlin would survive. Not only did Hamlin survive but he's now thriving as an NFL starter.

After a lengthy recovery process, Hamlin returned to the Bills last season in a largely ceremonial role. He was a member of the roster in the 2023 season, but played sparingly in a reserve role in five games, recording two tackles on the season.

Prior to Buffalo's Sept. 8 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced that Hamlin would return to his starting role that he held prior to his cardiac arrest.

Hamlin has since started Buffalo's first three games of the season, recording 14 tackles in two games before Monday's game against Jacksonville. And how he has his first career interception on the same "Monday Night Football" broadcast that witnessed his terrifying scene on the field less than two years ago.