Former Alabama and NFL defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs has been signed by the San Antonio Brahmas, according to the United Football League‘s Thursday night transactions report.

A former starter for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, Buggs is returning to football after resolving legal issues that caused him to miss the 2024 football season.

In April, Buggs had a conviction of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges dismissed in the 6th Circuit Court of Alabama.

In July 2024, Tuscaloosa County District Judge Joanne Jannik had sentenced Buggs to 365 days of hard labor after he was convicted on two counts of animal cruelty. The judge ordered Buggs to serve 60 days, with the rest to be suspended for two years pending “the behavior of the defendant.”

The Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office asked the court to dismiss the charges after new evidence showed Buggs had arranged for someone to care for the two dogs involved while he was away, but that duty was not carried out.

In June 2024, Buggs was arrested in Tuscaloosa County on charges of second-degree domestic violence and second-degree burglary.

The Kansas City Chiefs released Buggs the following week.

In March, Buggs pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of criminal trespass in that case, according to court records, and was sentenced to two years of supervised probation.

The Brahmas are halfway through their 10-game UFL regular -season schedule. San Antonio plays the Birmingham Stallions at 3 p.m. CDT Sunday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

A sixth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Buggs had played 433 defensive snaps in 29 games in three seasons with Pittsburgh when the Steelers released him the day before their finale for the 2021 campaign.

Signed by the Lions just before training camp in 2022, Buggs played in all 17 games, with 13 starts, for Detroit that season. He recorded 46 tackles, one sack, 10 quarterback hits, two pass breakups and one forced fumble while on the field for 755 defensive snaps.

Rather than become an unrestricted free agent in 2023, Buggs signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension with the Lions that included a $1 million signing bonus and $2.1 million in guaranteed money.

But during the 2023 season, Buggs was designated as a game-day inactive six times by the Lions. He made three starts in 10 games and recorded 12 tackles and one sack before Detroit waived him with a game remaining on its regular-season schedule.

Kansas City signed Buggs for its practice squad after the Lions let him go, and he stayed with the Chiefs through their 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, 2024.

Buggs re-signed to remain with Kansas City for the 2024 season the next week.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.