It all started on Interstate 287.

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold got one of the strangest autograph requests of his young career Sunday after practice at training camp – a speeding ticket. After a bit of hesitation, the second-year signal caller obliged and an image of the signed ticket subsequently went viral on Twitter.

“I didn’t know if I should sign it or not,” Darnold joked following practice Monday morning. “I wasn’t sure what to do. He told me to sign it. I’m sure if I got in trouble for it or whatever they could sign it off.”

The now-unique piece of memorabilia originated from a missed alarm. Four friends – Michael Bogaards, Grant Naylor, Charlie DeLuca and Billy Kelty – had planned to make the trip to Florham Park together, but Naylor overslept and his friends left without him. Naylor tried to make up lost time on the road, but his Toyota Prius was pulled over on Interstate 287, and he was cited for going 64 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.

The group put the highway pit-stop to good use.

“We didn’t think he’d show up since we left without him,” Bogaards, an outspoken Jets fan, told The Post. “But he did and showed us the fresh ticket, and we couldn’t stop laughing. Then we were like ‘Let’s get somebody to autograph it.’ It was the only thing we had for him to sign. The rest is history.”

Darnold was initially taken aback by the unique request, but followed through after he was done laughing. His generosity stopped there, though. He did not offer to pay the ticket.

“I didn’t give him my card or anything,” Darnold said. “So, I’m all right.”

That responsibility still belongs to the offender.

“I’m going to make a shrine in my room for it,” Naylor said. “But I’ll make sure to pay the ticket first.”

The group did not expect the autograph to go viral, much less for Darnold to be asked about it. The post has amassed over 200 likes so far and even garnered an “awesome (but also drive safe)” response from the team. Now with their newfound fame, they plan to acquire even more outlandish signatures.

“We all laughed,” Bogaards said. “We didn’t expect it to go somewhat viral, but now we plan to go to the Jets-Giants preseason game in August to get him to sign our ‘Sam Ham’ – a big maple glazed ham with a tiny Darnold Jersey and his face on it.”

For Darnold, it was an unusual autograph request. For one group of friends, it was a traffic stop of a lifetime.