Isaiah Buggs Bio
Isaiah Buggs (born August 24, 1996) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Orlando Storm of the United Football League (UFL). A native of Ruston, Louisiana, Buggs rose through the junior college ranks before starring at the University of Alabama and beginning a National Football League career in 2019. Over the years he has suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs, capturing a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City. In 2025, Buggs transitioned to spring football by signing with the San Antonio Brahmas, and he was later selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Buggs was born and raised in Ruston, Louisiana, a small city in the northern part of the state. He attended Ruston High School, where he developed into a promising defensive lineman and laid the foundation for his future in football. His size and athleticism helped him attract attention from college recruiters looking for interior defensive talent.
After high school, Buggs began his collegiate career at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, playing there during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Over those two years he accumulated 134 tackles and 7.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the top junior college defensive linemen in the country. His performance at the community college level earned him a scholarship offer from a major program, and in 2017 he transferred to the University of Alabama.
Path to American Football
Buggs’s path to professional football accelerated quickly once he arrived in Tuscaloosa. As a junior at Alabama in 2017, he started 13 of 14 games, recording 51 tackles and 1.5 sacks while helping the Crimson Tide win the College Football Playoff National Championship. He recorded five tackles in the title-game victory over Georgia, a performance that reinforced his value as a run-stopping defensive tackle.
He returned to Alabama for the 2018 season, where he earned Second-team All-SEC recognition for his work along the defensive line. Following the 2018 campaign, Buggs declared for the NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in 2019. That selection launched his professional career and set the stage for stops with several NFL franchises before his move to the UFL.
Isaiah Buggs Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Isaiah Buggs began his NFL journey with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he appeared in eight games and recorded three total tackles, working primarily as a rotational defensive lineman. He continued with Pittsburgh through the 2020 season, during which he was briefly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated three days later.
On January 8, 2022, the Steelers released Buggs, ending his time in Pittsburgh. Shortly afterward, on January 17, 2022, he was signed to the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders. His tenure in Las Vegas was brief, and he soon moved on to another opportunity in the NFC North.
Detroit Lions Era (2022–2023)
Buggs signed with the Detroit Lions on July 22, 2022, and the move quickly became one of the most productive stretches of his career. He played in all 17 games during the 2022 season, making 13 starts, and finished the year with 46 tackles, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble. His consistency and durability helped solidify the Lions’ defensive front.
On March 13, 2023, Buggs signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract extension with Detroit, signaling the organization’s confidence in his role going forward. However, his time with the Lions concluded on January 2, 2024, when he was released. Across his NFL career, Buggs has accumulated 89 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 4 pass deflections.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2023–2024)
On January 4, 2024, Buggs was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, joining a team in the thick of a championship run. He was part of the Chiefs roster when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII, earning his first Super Bowl ring. On February 14, he signed a reserve/future contract with Kansas City.
His future with the Chiefs ended on June 24, 2024, when the organization released him amid off-field legal issues. Buggs was later sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation in connection with an animal cruelty case. The release closed his Chiefs tenure and set the stage for his next chapter in professional football.
San Antonio Brahmas and Orlando Storm Era (2025–Present)
Looking for a fresh start, Buggs signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL on May 1, 2025, beginning his career in spring professional football. The move allowed him to continue playing at a high level while transitioning to a new league. His experience as an NFL defensive tackle made him one of the more seasoned players in the UFL.
On January 13, 2026, Buggs was selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft, and he was also named to the All-UFL Team in 2026. He is currently listed at number 96 on the Orlando Storm roster as an active defensive tackle, continuing his professional career into a new era of spring football.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Isaiah Buggs’s career came when he won Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs, capping their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier, he had celebrated a College Football Playoff National Championship with Alabama in 2017. His selection to the All-UFL Team in 2026 added another notable line to a résumé that has spanned multiple NFL franchises and two professional leagues.
Isaiah Buggs Career Highlights
Isaiah Buggs’s career has been highlighted by championship success at both the collegiate and professional levels. He won a College Football Playoff National Championship with Alabama in 2017 and a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2023 season. He was also recognized as a Second-team All-SEC selection in 2018 and earned All-UFL Team honors in 2026.
Isaiah Buggs Family
Personal Life
Isaiah Buggs is a native of Ruston, Louisiana, where he attended Ruston High School. He played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College from 2015 to 2016 before transferring to Alabama, where he spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Beyond his football journey, Buggs faced legal challenges in 2024, including an animal cruelty case in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that resulted in a 60-day jail sentence and two years of probation. He was also arrested on charges of second-degree domestic violence and burglary in June 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Isaiah Buggs entered the 2025 season with the San Antonio Brahmas after signing with the UFL franchise on May 1, 2025. The move marked his debut in spring professional football and gave him an opportunity to play meaningful snaps in a new league. His NFL pedigree as a defensive tackle made him one of the more experienced players on the Brahmas roster.
Throughout the 2025 UFL season, Buggs served as an interior presence on the Brahmas defensive line, contributing experience and leadership to a developing squad. The 2025 campaign also set the stage for the next chapter of his career, as he was selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft on January 13, 2026. His play in 2025 helped pave the way for that transition, and he was later named to the All-UFL Team in 2026.
