Isaiah Buggs

Isaiah Buggs's Biography

Isaiah Buggs, born on August 24, 1996, has secured a position for himself in the American football industry as an exceptional defensive tackle. He nurtured his passionate attachment to football during his time at Ruston High School in Ruston, Louisiana, where he demonstrated impressive performance on the field.

In 2015, Buggs moved to the next level of his athletic career by joining the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College football team. Over the span of two years, 2015 and 2016, he emerged as an indomitable power on the field. With 134 tackles and 7.5 sacks, Buggs marked his time at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College with exceptional records.

The talent he exhibited earned him a transfer to the University of Alabama in 2017. The defensive tackle used this opportunity to further carve a niche for himself. He started in 13 of 14 games during his first year at Alabama, and succeeded in recording 51 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He entrenched his place on the University of Alabama’s team by contributing five tackles to its 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Georgia, and he continued playing for Alabama in 2018.

His career in the National Football League, NFL, took off when he got drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round as the 192nd pick of the 2019 NFL draft. His rookie season consisted of eight games in which he accrued three total tackles. Buggs faced a temporary setback in November 2020 when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Steelers. He soon recovered, with his activation only three days later. His journey with the Steelers ended on January 8, 2022, when he was released by the team.

Shortly after, on January 17, 2022, Buggs was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders and incorporated into their practice squad. He added a new dimension to his career later in the year, signing with the Detroit Lions on July 22, 2022. Starting 13 of 17 games that season, he made an indelible mark with 46 tackles, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble. His contributions didn’t go unnoticed, which earned him a two-year contract extension worth $6 million with the Lions on March 13, 2023.

However, an unanticipated twist to his career took place at the end of the year. He was released by the Lions on January 2, 2024. Following his departure from Detroit, Buggs joined the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on January 4, 2024. This move proved fortuitous as he won his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling 25-22 win in Super Bowl LVIII.

This victorious streak was cut short as Buggs faced legal issues – on May 29, 2024, he was accused of animal cruelty in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This accusation stemmed from an incident where his dogs were found chained without access to food or water and living among feces. As a result of this, the dogs were seized from his property on March 28.

The following month, on June 16, 2024, Buggs was arrested again on charges of second-degree domestic violence and burglary. These multiple legal incidents resulted in his release by the Chiefs on June 24, 2024. He ended up serving a sentence of 60 days in jail and was placed on a 2-year probation due to his crimes of animal cruelty. Despite the highs and lows of his career, Isaiah Buggs leaves behind a complex legacy in American football.