The NFL has issued a major suspension to former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, sidelining him for the opening 10 contests of the 2025 season.
Buggs, now 29, last appeared on an NFL roster with the Kansas City Chiefs before being cut in June 2024. With this ruling, any chance of a comeback is effectively paused.
Career Derailed by Off-Field Problems
A sixth-round draft pick from Alabama, Buggs started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing three years before signing with the Lions. He was part of Dan Campbell’s defensive rotation in 2022 and 2023. Over his five seasons in the league, he suited up in 56 games, tallying 89 tackles and two sacks.
However, his NFL run has been marred by serious personal and legal setbacks.
In 2024, Buggs was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty for leaving two dogs without care, resulting in a 60-day hard labor sentence. That ruling was overturned in April, but his troubles didn’t end there. Weeks later, he was arrested on domestic violence charges after allegedly breaking into the mother of his child’s home and forcibly dragging her down a staircase. Kansas City released him shortly after the incident.
He later reached a plea deal, which lowered the domestic violence charge to criminal trespass.
Why the League Stepped In
The NFL hasn’t identified the exact incidents that triggered the suspension, but under its personal conduct policy, players don’t need a conviction to face discipline. Any behavior deemed a violation of league standards can result in punishment.
For Buggs, this suspension may signal the end of his NFL career. After sitting out more than a year and now facing a lengthy ban, it’s unlikely teams will take a chance on him.
Final Word
Once a role player on Detroit’s defensive front, Isaiah Buggs now finds his career overshadowed by off-field controversies. The league’s 10-game suspension feels like the closing chapter of a career derailed by legal trouble as much as by football itself.
