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Watch: Former Gators CB Kaiir Elam Posts First NFL Playoffs Interception

Former Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam came up with a crucial interception in Buffalo's Wild Card matchup with Miami.

Zach Goodall

In this story:

What could prove to be Buffalo's most vital play of the 2022-23 Wild Card round, Bills cornerback and three-year former Florida Gators defensive back Kaiir Elam was on the receiving end of a second-half interception on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. 

The pick set Buffalo, down 24-20 with 7:29 left in the third quarter at the time, up at Miami's 33-yard line. Five snaps later, the Bills retook the lead, 27-24, as a result of quarterback Josh Allen's six-yard completion to receiver Cole Beasley in the end zone. 

You can watch Elam's interception, the first postseason pick of his NFL career, below.

At the time this story was published, the Bills had re-established a two-possession lead — 34-24 at the beginning of the fourth quarter — after blowing a 14-point margin over the Dolphins near the end of the first half. Miami took brief control of the game at the beginning of the third quarter following a strip-sack on Allen that turned into a Dolphins touchdown. 

Elam was Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, picked at No. 23 overall following three successful seasons at Florida. 

A product of North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School, Elam cracked the Gators' starting secondary as a true freshman due to injuries above him on the depth chart and never looked back, holding onto the role until he opted to enter the draft following his junior season.

He posted 79 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 26 defended passes and a forced fumble in 35 games with the Gators, earning First-Team All-SEC honors in 2020 and All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2019.

During his first regular season in the pros, Elam produced 41 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 13 games, starting six of them. 

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Zach Goodall
ZACH GOODALL

Zach Goodall is the publisher of AllGators.com on FanNation-Sports Illustrated, serving as a beat reporter covering football, recruiting, and occasionally other sports since 2019.  Before moving to Gainesville, Zach spent four years covering the Jacksonville Jaguars for SB Nation (2015-18) and Locked On Podcast Network (2017-19), originally launching his sports journalism career as a junior in high school. He also covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for FanNation-Sports Illustrated (2020-22). In addition to writing and reporting, Zach is a sports photographer and videographer who primarily shoots football and basketball games, practices and related events. When time permits in the 24/7 media realm, Zach enjoys road trips, concerts, golf and microbreweries. 

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