Kansas City Chiefs to release DT Isaiah Buggs after slew of off-field issues in 2024 NFL offseason
The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. "Isaiah Buggs’ bond was revoked after his most recent arrest and he’s currently in jail as multiple legal cases play out. Bigger issues to worry about than football, and Kansas City is moving on," Pelissero added. On Father's Day, Buggs […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
"Isaiah Buggs’ bond was revoked after his most recent arrest and he’s currently in jail as multiple legal cases play out. Bigger issues to worry about than football, and Kansas City is moving on," Pelissero added.
On Father's Day, Buggs was booked by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office on a second-degree domestic violence and burglary charge.
Tuscaloosa Patch reporter Ryan Phillips explained that the latest charge against Buggs is "a Class B felony punishable with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison." A police spokeswoman confirmed that Buggs "remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a mandatory 12-hour domestic violence hold." Following the 12-hour hold, he was able to be released for $5,000.
However, as Pelissero added, his bond was revoked and he is currently in jail.
This isn't the first of Buggs' off-the-field issues, with the defensive lineman having first faced accusations of and charges related to animal cruelty, which he vehemently denied via a statement released by his agent.
“Isaiah vehemently denies the truthfulness of the allegations and charges asserted against him today. Under no circumstances does Mr. Buggs condone the mistreatment of any animal. The dogs at issue did not belong to him and he was unaware they remained at the property in question. Furthermore, we believe the City of Tuscaloosa’s decision to file charges charges today is part of a concerted effort ….to besmirch Mr. Buggs’ name and reputation as part of an on-going subversive campaign to force the close of his local business, Kings Hookah Lounge.”
Buggs signed with the Chiefs practice squad during the 2023 season after being released by the Detroit Lions. He went on to sign a reserve/future deal to return to the team in 2024. He missed OTAs but he did attend all three of the team's practice sessions for mandatory minicamp.
More information about the animal cruelty accusation in Alabama
On March 28, Tuscaloosa Police and Animal Control officers responded to reports of two dogs being left on the back porch of a residence per a civil petition.
Responding officers found a pit bull chained up in a screened-in porch and a rottweiler in a cage in direct sunlight. Both had no access to food or water. The petition states that both dogs were seized on March 28 after being severely "malnourished, emaciated and neglected."
The pit bull was later euthanized by Tuscaloosa County Metro Animal Shelter after becoming aggressive and failing heartworm treatments. The rottweiler, who tested positive for Parvo, remains in the care of Tuscaloosa County Metro Animal Shelter pending a court ruling on whether Buggs should be allowed to own it or any other animals.
The residence where the dogs were found was reportedly abandoned and a neighbor indicated to officers that the dogs had been left out for at least 10 days. Police investigators found this house was previously being rented to Buggs, but his lease was terminated on April 15 due to owing over $3K in back rent.
His agent released a statement, denying the allegations.
More information about Buggs' most recent arrest in Alabama
Buggs was arrested by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office on a second-degree domestic violence and burglary charge on Father's Day, his second incident of the offseason. He's accused of he accused of dragging his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child down the stairs of her apartment. He was initially given a $5,000 bond, but he's since had his bond revoked and remains in jail in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In late May, Buggs turned himself into the Tuscaloosa police on animal cruelty charges, making this his second arrest in as many months.
Buggs was drafted out of the University of Alabama by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. The 27-year-old has spent time with the Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders, before landing on the practice squad in Kansas City ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
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