Former Steelers Player Gets Prison Sentence, Hard Labor

PITTSBURGH, PA — Former Pittsburgh Steeler Isiah Buggs has been sentenced to a year of hard labor, of which he will serve 60 days, following his conviction on animal cruelty charges. The remaining 10 months of his sentence was suspended last week by a judge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Buggs, who played three seasons for the Steelers, left dogs on the screened-in back porch of a home he was renting before moving out on March 19 due to owing back rent. According to court filings obtained by the Tuscaloosa Patch, police and animal control officers found the dogs severely "malnourished, emaciated and neglected."

Buggs, who played college football for Alabama, was the Steelers' sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was released by the team in January 2022 and since has played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. He was released by the Chiefs following his arrest.