The Face of a Mentor, the Heart of a Predator
Sometimes, the scariest monsters in Criminal Minds aren't the ones hiding in the woods with chainsaws. They're the ones wearing expensive suits, smiling at your mother, and telling the neighborhood what a "good kid" you are. That's exactly who Carl Buford was.
If you're a fan of the show, you know the name. It probably makes your skin crawl. Carl Buford wasn't just another "Unsub of the week." He was the man who broke Derek Morgan long before we ever met the BAU's resident tough guy.
He was a pillar of the Chicago community. A youth football coach. A savior for boys who didn't have fathers. Honestly, it's the classic grooming playbook, and the show handled it with a level of grit that still feels heavy today. You've probably seen "Profiler, Profiled" a dozen times, but there's a lot about the Carl Buford dynamic that gets lost in the fast-paced world of police procedurals.
Who Was Carl Buford?
Basically, he was the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing. Played with chilling charisma by actor Julius Tennon—who, fun fact, is the husband of the legendary Viola Davis—Buford was introduced in Season 2, Episode 12.
He didn't look like a killer. He looked like success.
For Derek Morgan, Buford was the man who stepped in after Derek's father, a police officer, was shot and killed right in front of him. Morgan was ten years old. He was vulnerable. Buford saw that vulnerability and didn't offer a hand up; he offered a trap. He used his position at the local community center to groom Morgan and countless other boys, trading "protection" and "opportunities" for horrific abuse.
The show makes it clear that Buford's power didn't come from physical strength alone. It came from the secrets he held. He convinced these boys that if they spoke up, they were the ones who would lose everything. Their reputations. Their futures. Their families.
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The Arrest That Changed Everything
In "Profiler, Profiled," Derek gets arrested for a murder he didn't commit while visiting home. Why? Because the local detective used a profile provided by Jason Gideon—ironic, right?—and it pointed straight at Morgan.
But as the BAU digs deeper, they realize the murders are connected to Buford’s old stomping grounds. The team starts to see the cracks. They see a pattern of young men dying or disappearing, all linked to the "saint" of the South Side.
The confrontation between Morgan and Buford in that interrogation room is arguably one of the most powerful scenes in the entire 15-season run. Morgan has to do the one thing he's spent his whole life avoiding: he has to admit he was a victim.
"I was a kid, and you were a man. And you were supposed to protect me."
That line? Chills. Every single time. It wasn't just about catching a killer; it was about Morgan reclaiming his own narrative from a man who had stolen his childhood.
Why Carl Buford Still Matters
A lot of TV villains are forgettable. You remember the "Reaper" because he was flashy and theatrical. You remember "Mr. Scratch" because he was surreal. But Carl Buford stays with you because he's real.
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Cases like his happen in real life constantly. Coaches, priests, teachers—people we trust.
The writers didn't just give Morgan a "sad backstory" for the sake of drama. They used Buford to explain why Morgan is the way he is. Why is he so protective of Garcia? Why is he so aggressive with sexual predators? Why does he have such a hard time trusting authority figures? It all tracks back to Buford.
The Restoration Arc
Buford didn't just disappear after Season 2. The show brought him back in Season 8, Episode 18, titled "Restoration."
This is where we see the long-term damage. Another victim of Buford's surfaces, and Morgan has to face the reality that while he escaped and became an FBI agent, others weren't so lucky. Some didn't survive. Some became predators themselves.
It’s a brutal look at the cycle of abuse. Buford, even behind bars, tried to manipulate Morgan. He tried to act like they were "partners." It was a desperate, pathetic attempt to maintain control. Seeing Morgan finally shut that door for good was the closure the audience—and the character—desperately needed.
What Most Fans Miss About the Character
People often think Buford was just a side note in Morgan's life, but he's actually the reason the BAU even exists in its current form. If Morgan hadn't been shaped by that trauma, he might have stayed in Chicago. He might have stayed on the bomb squad.
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Also, look at the casting. Julius Tennon plays Buford with such a calm, fatherly tone that it makes the reveal of his crimes feel like a physical gut-punch. If he had looked like a "creep," the story wouldn't have worked. The horror is in the normalcy.
Real Insights for True Crime Fans
If you're watching Criminal Minds for the psychology, the Buford arc is a masterclass in "The Groomer's Circle."
- Selection: He chose boys from single-parent homes or those who had experienced loss.
- Isolation: He made them feel like he was the only one who truly understood them.
- Normalization: He framed the abuse as a secret bond or a "rite of passage."
- Silence: He used his status in the community to ensure no one would believe them if they told.
It’s a pattern seen in real-world cases like Jerry Sandusky or Larry Nassar. The show used Carl Buford to shine a light on the fact that the most dangerous people are often the ones we invite to dinner.
Closing the Case
Carl Buford represents the reality that healing isn't linear. Morgan didn't "get over it" in one episode. It took seasons. It took years. It took a final confrontation with a dying man in a prison cell to truly put the ghost to rest.
If you’re revisiting these episodes, pay attention to the silence. The moments where Morgan can’t find the words. That’s where the real story is.
Your Next Steps
If you want to understand the full weight of the Carl Buford storyline, you need to watch these specific episodes in order. Don't just skip around.
- Season 2, Episode 12: "Profiler, Profiled" – The introduction and the first time Morgan speaks the truth.
- Season 8, Episode 18: "Restoration" – The return of Buford and the exploration of his other victims.
- Season 11, Episode 18: "A Beautiful Disaster" – While Buford isn't in this one, it’s the culmination of Morgan’s journey as he leaves the BAU to protect his own son, effectively breaking the cycle of fatherless trauma Buford exploited.
Take a look at how Morgan’s body language changes when he’s back in Chicago versus when he’s in the office. It’s a subtle piece of acting by Shemar Moore that really sells the lasting impact of Carl Buford’s shadow.