The NFL has handed down a significant suspension to former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, banning him for the first 10 games of the 2025 season.
Buggs, 29, hasn’t suited up in the league since being released by the Kansas City Chiefs in June 2024, but now any potential comeback is on hold.
A Career Sidelined by Off-Field Issues
Once a promising sixth-round pick out of Alabama, Buggs played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Lions, where he became part of Dan Campbell’s rebuild in 2022 and 2023. Over five NFL seasons, he appeared in 56 games, recording 89 tackles and 2 sacks.
But his time in Detroit and beyond has been overshadowed by serious legal issues.
In 2024, Buggs was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty after leaving two dogs unattended, leading to a 60-day hard labor sentence. That conviction was later overturned in April. He also faced domestic violence charges stemming from a June 2024 incident, when he allegedly broke into the home of the mother of his child and forcibly dragged her down the stairs. That arrest led to his release by Kansas City.
Ultimately, he struck a plea agreement, reducing the domestic violence charge to criminal trespass.
Why the NFL Acted
The league did not specify which incidents triggered Buggs’ 10-game suspension, but under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, a conviction isn’t necessary for discipline. The league can hand down punishment if it determines a player’s actions violated its standards.
For Buggs, this ruling likely closes the door on his career. After being out of football for over a year and now facing a lengthy suspension, it’s hard to see a team investing in the veteran lineman.
The Bottom Line
Isaiah Buggs went from being part of the Lions’ scrappy defensive line to facing suspension and legal battles that have left his football future in doubt. The NFL’s latest ruling feels like the final chapter in a career derailed as much off the field as it was on it.