The university has put Michael Lombardi, general manager of North Carolina football and a key assistant to coach Bill Belichick, on paid administrative leave.
Lombardi’s absence is effective immediately, according to a Monday announcement from UNC, but no more information was made public. In less than five weeks, on August 29, the Tar Heels will play their second season under Belichick against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
A former UNC front office employee filed a human resources complaint, which led to the school’s decision, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The insider claims that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a statement, the school said:
“As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits,”
In December 2024, Lombardi rejoined six-time Super Bowl champion coach Belichick at UNC. He was Belichick’s assistant with the Cleveland Browns beginning in 1987 and the New England Patriots from 2014 to 2016.
Throughout his tenure at Chapel Hill, Lombardi has come under fire on several times, most notably when he boasted in February 2025 that the Tar Heels “consider ourselves the 33rd NFL team.” In September of last year, he also made waves when he told the Patriots that its scouts would not be allowed to participate in the Tar Heels’ program.
Under Belichick, UNC was 4-8 the previous season and had no players chosen in this year’s NFL draft.
