Report: Former Alabama player, current Chiefs DL Isaiah Buggs accused of animal cruelty in Tuscaloosa

According to Ryan Phillips of The Tuscaloosa Patch, former Alabama Crimson Tide and current Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs has been accused of animal cruelty. The incident occurred in Tuscaloosa and Buggs is expected to receive criminal charges over the matter.

“Isaiah Buggs, 27, is expected to receive criminal charges in the case but the civil petition says that on March 28, the Tuscaloosa Police Department received information of two dogs being left on the back porch of 5153 Diamond Circle,” Phillips said in his report.

“The petition goes on to say that when TPD and the City of Tuscaloosa’s Animal Control officers arrived, they found a grey and white pitbull on the screened-in back porch surrounded in feces, with no access to food or water.”

There was additionally a black Rottweiler found locked in a metal cage in direct sunlight with no access to food or water. Phillips says all of the dogs were seized on March 28 after they were “severely malnourished, emaciated and neglected.”

Buggs was renting the house in which the dogs were found by investigators. He reportedly moved out of the house on March 19 and the lease was terminated on April 15 due to the NFL player owing over $3,000 worth of rent.

“Authorities then reportedly tried to get in touch with Buggs on March 28, but were unsuccessful and the petition says as of Wednesday that two misdemeanor warrants have been obtained for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats,” the report said.

Entering his sixth year in the NFL, Buggs was originally a sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. Buggs moved over to Detroit ahead of the 2022 season and signed with Kansas City this offseason fresh off another Super Bowl title for the franchise.

Buggs has played in 56 career games, recording 89 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and hitting the quarterback 12 times. Just 23 of those appearances have been a start, with his career-high being 13 with the Lions in 2022.

His college career began in JUCO but Buggs signed with Alabama ahead of the 2017 season. Two seasons were spent in Tuscaloosa, playing under head coach Nick Saban. Buggs does have a national championship to his name, earning one during his first year on campus. Another title game appearance occurred the following season but ultimately lost to Clemson.